A method of displaying a preferred stopping distance comprising: receiving a current location of an vehicle relative to a landing pad; calculating a deceleration of a lower bound of the preferred stopping distance symbol; calculating a deceleration of a upper bound of the preferred stopping distance symbol; calculating a predicted stopping ground location of the upper bound and lower bound; and displaying the preferred stopping distance symbol on a graphic user interface. A stopping indicator system on a three-dimensional display includes a flight path vector symbol, a landing pad symbol, a waypoint symbol positioned at some altitude above the landing pad symbol, a nearest predicted stopping symbol, a preferred stopping distance symbol, and a predicted stopping location symbol.

Assessing compatibility of airport infrastructure with an aircraft model design is provided. The method comprises retrieving information about features of an airport from an airport infrastructure database and calculating, through triangulation, distances between the features of the airport. A rationale for regulatory design requirements for the features of the airport is determined. An assessment is generated based on the distances between the features, dimensions of the aircraft model, and the rationale for the regulatory requirements. The assessment identifies areas of the airport that can accommodate the aircraft model and any areas of the airport that cannot. A map of the airport is dynamically displayed in a user interface with visual indications of the areas of the airport that can accommodate the aircraft model and the areas of the airport that cannot accommodate the aircraft model to guide movement of an aircraft of the aircraft model.

A system for calculating a mission of an aircraft by combination of algorithms includes a first path calculation module, configured for calculating an optimal mission path between a geographical point of origin and a geographical destination point as a function of airplane performance, operational mission specifications and a weather context. The first calculation module is configured to determine the optimal path in a manner non constrained by a network of waypoints and/or imposed paths between the waypoints. The system includes a definition module, around the optimal path, an optimization region of the path and a second path calculating module, configured to calculate an optimized path of the aircraft in the optimization region in a manner constrained by a network of waypoints and/or imposed paths between the waypoints.

A system for calculating a mission of an aircraft by combination of algorithms includes a first path calculation module, configured for calculating an optimal mission path between a geographical point of origin and a geographical destination point as a function of airplane performance, operational mission specifications and a weather context. The first calculation module is configured to determine the optimal path in a manner non constrained by a network of waypoints and/or imposed paths between the waypoints. The system includes a definition module, around the optimal path, an optimization region of the path and a second path calculating module, configured to calculate an optimized path of the aircraft in the optimization region in a manner constrained by a network of waypoints and/or imposed paths between the waypoints.

System for controlling an autonomous vehicle on the basis of control values and acceleration values, having a safety-determining module configured to receive live images from a camera, to receive recorded stored images preprocessed for image recognition from an internal safety-determining module data storage, to receive navigation instruction(s) from a navigation module; to compare the live images with the stored images to determine a degree of correspondence; and to determine a safety value which indicates the extent to which the determined degree of correspondence suffices to execute the navigation instruction(s); wherein a control module is configured to receive the navigation instruction(s); to receive the live images; to receive the safety value; to compare the safety value to a predetermined value; and if the safety value is greater than the predetermined value, to convert the navigation instruction(s) and the camera images into control values and acceleration values for the autonomous vehicle.

System for controlling an autonomous vehicle on the basis of control values and acceleration values, having a safety-determining module configured to receive live images from a camera, to receive recorded stored images preprocessed for image recognition from an internal safety-determining module data storage, to receive navigation instruction(s) from a navigation module; to compare the live images with the stored images to determine a degree of correspondence; and to determine a safety value which indicates the extent to which the determined degree of correspondence suffices to execute the navigation instruction(s); wherein a control module is configured to receive the navigation instruction(s); to receive the live images; to receive the safety value; to compare the safety value to a predetermined value; and if the safety value is greater than the predetermined value, to convert the navigation instruction(s) and the camera images into control values and acceleration values for the autonomous vehicle.

A vehicle management system includes a missile avoidance system that generates command for controlling at least one function of a vehicle. The missile avoidance system includes a maneuver control unit and a missile avoidance management unit. The maneuver control unit includes at least two control models. Each of the at least two control models generates the command for controlling the at least one function of the vehicle, and each of the at least two control models can be selectively put in an active state or an inactive state. The missile avoidance management unit selects one of the at least two control models and putts it in the active state. The maneuver control unit outputs the command for controlling the at least one function of the vehicle provided by the control model that is in the active state.

A vehicle management system includes a missile avoidance system that generates command for controlling at least one function of a vehicle. The missile avoidance system includes a maneuver control unit and a missile avoidance management unit. The maneuver control unit includes at least two control models. Each of the at least two control models generates the command for controlling the at least one function of the vehicle, and each of the at least two control models can be selectively put in an active state or an inactive state. The missile avoidance management unit selects one of the at least two control models and putts it in the active state. The maneuver control unit outputs the command for controlling the at least one function of the vehicle provided by the control model that is in the active state.

A method for landing an aircraft, which takes off and lands vertically, at a predetermined landing site defined by a circular marking that can be captured optically and has a circular outer contour utilizes a landing system. A camera arranged on the aircraft and directed to the landing site is used to capture images electronically, each of which represents a reproduction of the marking detected at least in sections. Each camera image is evaluated in a control device. The control device is used to fit a geometric object with at least one straight line, which has a predetermined line slope in relation to the camera image, into the reproduction in such a way that the line constitutes a tangent through a contact point to the marking detected at least in sections. The control device steers the aircraft in the direction of the contact point determined in this way.

A method for landing an aircraft, which takes off and lands vertically, at a predetermined landing site defined by a circular marking that can be captured optically and has a circular outer contour utilizes a landing system. A camera arranged on the aircraft and directed to the landing site is used to capture images electronically, each of which represents a reproduction of the marking detected at least in sections. Each camera image is evaluated in a control device. The control device is used to fit a geometric object with at least one straight line, which has a predetermined line slope in relation to the camera image, into the reproduction in such a way that the line constitutes a tangent through a contact point to the marking detected at least in sections. The control device steers the aircraft in the direction of the contact point determined in this way.