A take-off and landing site monitoring device is configured to include: an image data acquiring unit that acquires, from an imaging device that images a take-off and landing site, image data indicating a captured image of the take-off and landing site; and an obstruction detecting unit that determines the type of obstruction that hinders take-off and landing of a vertical take-off and landing aircraft using the take-off and landing site on the basis of the image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit.

A take-off and landing site monitoring device is configured to include: an image data acquiring unit that acquires, from an imaging device that images a take-off and landing site, image data indicating a captured image of the take-off and landing site; and an obstruction detecting unit that determines the type of obstruction that hinders take-off and landing of a vertical take-off and landing aircraft using the take-off and landing site on the basis of the image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit.

Embodiments relate generally to systems and VTOL aerial vehicles. An example central server system comprises: at least one central server system processor; and central server system memory storing central server system program instructions accessible by the at least one central server system processor, and configured to cause the at least one central server system processor to: receive vehicle registration data associated with a manned VTOL aerial vehicle; and determine that the vehicle registration data is associated with a manned VTOL aerial vehicle that is authorized to communicate with the central server system. Some embodiments include VTOL aerial vehicles in communication or communicable with a central server system.

Embodiments relate generally to systems and VTOL aerial vehicles. An example central server system comprises: at least one central server system processor; and central server system memory storing central server system program instructions accessible by the at least one central server system processor, and configured to cause the at least one central server system processor to: receive vehicle registration data associated with a manned VTOL aerial vehicle; and determine that the vehicle registration data is associated with a manned VTOL aerial vehicle that is authorized to communicate with the central server system. Some embodiments include VTOL aerial vehicles in communication or communicable with a central server system.

A system for filtering and presenting notifications received by an aircraft includes a processor, a display device, a communication device, and computer-readable memory. The computer-readable memory encoded with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the following steps. The system receives one or more broadcast notifications. The notifications are, for example, Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs). The system filters the one or more broadcasted notifications based upon applicability to a present flight plan to generate applicable notifications. The system filters the applicable notifications based upon one or more filtering criteria to assign a criticality to each of the applicable notifications. The system display, via the display device, the applicable notifications based upon the criticality of each of the applicable notifications. The system outputs alternate flight plans due to restrictions on the present flight plan.

A communication system is disclosed herein and includes aircraft equipment and on-ground equipment and uses a collaborative map, which has a graphic user interface that includes digital layers that each display a different interface view, and a digital assistant to optimize missions of the aircraft on ground and in flight. A first instance of the collaborative map and a first instance of the digital assistant are onboard the aircraft for one or more pilots to view and interact with. At least one second instance of the collaborative map and a second instance of the digital assistant are on-ground for one or more operators to view and interact with. Communications are managed to ensure synchronization of the instances of the collaborative map and the instances of the digital assistant.

A communication system is disclosed herein and includes aircraft equipment and on-ground equipment and uses a collaborative map, which has a graphic user interface that includes digital layers that each display a different interface view, and a digital assistant to optimize missions of the aircraft on ground and in flight. A first instance of the collaborative map and a first instance of the digital assistant are onboard the aircraft for one or more pilots to view and interact with. At least one second instance of the collaborative map and a second instance of the digital assistant are on-ground for one or more operators to view and interact with. Communications are managed to ensure synchronization of the instances of the collaborative map and the instances of the digital assistant.

Systems and methods for managing an anti-incursion function of an aircraft taxiing within an airport environment can be implemented by a monitoring equipment embedded in the aircraft. A human-machine interface of the monitoring equipment can be configured to display a guidance tile that presents context-dependent information as the aircraft taxies within the airport environment. In this way, the pilot of the aircraft can be first warned to ensure that the incursion-risk area (such as a runway) is cleared before operating the aircraft to enter into the incursion-risk area, and if the pilot fails to timely make steps to confirm clearance of the incursion-risk area, then the monitoring equipment can trigger automatic braking so as to stop the aircraft, thus preventing the aircraft from unsafely entering the incursion-risk area.

Systems and methods for managing an anti-incursion function of an aircraft taxiing within an airport environment can be implemented by a monitoring equipment embedded in the aircraft. A human-machine interface of the monitoring equipment can be configured to display a guidance tile that presents context-dependent information as the aircraft taxies within the airport environment. In this way, the pilot of the aircraft can be first warned to ensure that the incursion-risk area (such as a runway) is cleared before operating the aircraft to enter into the incursion-risk area, and if the pilot fails to timely make steps to confirm clearance of the incursion-risk area, then the monitoring equipment can trigger automatic braking so as to stop the aircraft, thus preventing the aircraft from unsafely entering the incursion-risk area.

A system comprises a controller onboard a vehicle that provides for autonomous taxiing of the vehicle at an airport. Onboard optical sensors include look-forward and look-down optical sensors. An onboard bidirectional radio receives ATC clearance information. The system also includes onboard aiding sensors, and an airport moving map database. An ATC clearance processing module translates the ATC clearance information into processor readable information. An image processing module receives image data from the optical sensors, and provides object detection and image interpretation functions. A taxi route generation module receives translated ATC clearance information and map information to generate a travel route at the airport for the vehicle. An aiding sensor data processing module determines state information for the vehicle based on vehicle state data. A command generation module generates commands for driving the vehicle. A control module automatically drives the vehicle on an airport surface, and controls a brake and throttle.