Autoland systems and processes for landing an aircraft without pilot intervention are described. In implementations, the autoland system includes a memory operable to store one or more modules and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to identify a plurality of potential destinations for an aircraft; calculate a merit for each potential destination identified; select a destination based upon the merit; and create a route from a current position of the aircraft to an approach fix associated with the destination that accounts for the terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s). The processor can also cause the aircraft to traverse the route, determine a final approach segment associated with the route; identify terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s) associated with the final approach segment; and determine an adjusted final approach segment accounting for the terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s).

Systems and methods for integrity monitoring of primary and derived parameters are described herein. In certain embodiments, a method includes transforming an estimated error state covariance matrix of at least one primary integrity monitoring parameter of a navigation system onto an error state covariance matrix of one or more derived integrity monitoring parameters, wherein the one or more derived integrity monitoring parameters depends from the at least one primary integrity monitoring parameter. The method also includes transforming an integrity threshold of the at least one primary integrity monitoring parameter onto separation parameters of the one or more derived integrity monitoring parameters. The method further includes computing a protection limit for the one or more derived integrity monitoring parameters.

An aircraft with a mission computer, a GNSS receiver with a first air interface and a first receiver and a data transmission unit with a second air interface and a second receiver. The data transmission unit can receive data via an encrypted, bidirectional communication path. The mission computer determines a position value for the aircraft based on satellite signals from the GNSS receiver to which a correction term has been applied, which is transmitted to the aircraft by the data transmission unit to determine corrected satellite signals. The corrected satellite signals are the basis for determining corrected position value. The mission computer uses a GNSS receiver and data transmission unit as part of the aircraft. A ground arrangement is provided with an associated ground station and optionally a test unit for checking correct determination of the corrected position value.

An aircraft with a mission computer, a GNSS receiver with a first air interface and a first receiver and a data transmission unit with a second air interface and a second receiver. The data transmission unit can receive data via an encrypted, bidirectional communication path. The mission computer determines a position value for the aircraft based on satellite signals from the GNSS receiver to which a correction term has been applied, which is transmitted to the aircraft by the data transmission unit to determine corrected satellite signals. The corrected satellite signals are the basis for determining corrected position value. The mission computer uses a GNSS receiver and data transmission unit as part of the aircraft. A ground arrangement is provided with an associated ground station and optionally a test unit for checking correct determination of the corrected position value.

A system and for determining precision navigation solutions decorrelates GPS carrier-phase ambiguities derived from multiple-source GPS information via Least-squares AMBiguity Decorrelation Adjustment (LAMBDA) algorithms. The set of decorrelated floating-point ambiguities is used to compute protection levels and the probability of almost fix (PAF), or the probability that the partial almost-fix solution corresponding to the decorrelated ambiguities is within the region of correctly-fixed or low-error almost-fixed ambiguities. While the PAF remains below threshold and the protection levels remain below alert levels, the optimal navigation solution (floating-point, partial almost-fix, or fully fixed) is generated by fixing the decorrelated ambiguities are one at a time in the LAMBDA domain and replacing the appropriate carrier-phase ambiguities with the corresponding fixed ambiguities, reverting to the last solution if PAF reaches the threshold or if protection levels reach the alert levels.

A distance measurement location control system for guiding a helicopter pilot to locate powerline marker ball positions with respect to longitudinal displacement. A location control assembly communicates with a microprocessor module (MCU) onboard the location control assembly. A computer device is configured to receive and transmit setup data from and to the location control assembly. A GNSS module onboard the location control assembly is electrically connected to the MCU. A display onboard the location control assembly is connected to a first serial data line from the MCU to receive GNSS data. A global satellite communication network module onboard the location control assembly is electronically coupled to a second serial data line from the MCU to provide flight information. The display operates to dynamically guide a helicopter pilot to a number of powerline ball locations in a precise manner.

A system having components coupled to an aircraft and components remote from the aircraft processes radar-augmented data, transmits information between aircraft system components and/or remote system components, and dynamically determines locations and states of the aircraft, while the aircraft is in flight. Based on the locations and states of the aircraft, the system generates instructions for flight control of the aircraft toward a flight path appropriate to the locations of the aircraft, and can update flight control instructions as new data is received and processed.

Autoland systems and processes for landing an aircraft without pilot intervention are described. In implementations, the autoland system includes a memory operable to store one or more modules and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to identify a plurality of potential destinations for an aircraft. The processor can also calculate a merit for each potential destination identified, select a destination based upon the merit; receive terrain data and/or obstacle data, the including terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s); and create a route from a current position of the aircraft to an approach fix associated with the destination, the route accounting for the terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s). The processor can also cause the aircraft to traverse the route, and cause the aircraft to land at the destination without requiring pilot intervention.

Autoland systems and processes for landing an aircraft without pilot intervention are described. In implementations, the autoland system includes a memory operable to store one or more modules and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to identify a plurality of potential destinations for an aircraft. The processor can also calculate a merit for each potential destination identified, select a destination based upon the merit; receive terrain data and/or obstacle data, the including terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s); and create a route from a current position of the aircraft to an approach fix associated with the destination, the route accounting for the terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s). The processor can also cause the aircraft to traverse the route, and cause the aircraft to land at the destination without requiring pilot intervention.

Three or more receivers installed in a UAV receive signals from a number of satellites, and generate, based on these received signals, observation data items including information items about distances from the satellites to the receivers. An information processing apparatus calculates, based on these observation data items and on position data items of the plurality of satellites, estimated reception positions at which one or more of the receivers are estimated to receive the signals from the satellites. The information processing apparatus calculates, based on these estimated reception positions and on an estimated posture of the UAV, estimated positions of a ranging apparatus in the UAV. The ranging apparatus measures a distance to a target by applying a laser beam to the target in synchronization with timings at which the receivers receives the signals from the satellites.