A system and apparatus for assisting in determining the best course of action at any point inflight for an emergency. The system may monitor a plurality of parameters including atmospheric conditions along the flight path, ground conditions and terrain, conditions aboard the aircraft, and pilot/crew data. Based on these parameters, the system may provide continually updated information about the best available landing sites or recommend solutions to aircraft configuration errors. In case of emergency, the system may provide a pilot with a procedure for execution for landing the aircraft.

A system and apparatus for assisting in determining the best course of action at any point inflight for an emergency. The system may monitor a plurality of parameters including atmospheric conditions along the flight path, ground conditions and terrain, conditions aboard the aircraft, and pilot/crew data. Based on these parameters, the system may provide continually updated information about the best available landing sites or recommend solutions to aircraft configuration errors. In case of emergency, the system may provide a pilot with a procedure for execution for landing the aircraft.

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a runway landing alert for an aircraft. The method comprises establishing a Runway Awareness Advisory System (RAAS) envelope for the designated target runway of the aircraft. A track of the aircraft is monitored with reference to a centerline of the target runway. Any deviation by the aircraft from the centerline of the target runway is detected and determined if it is within a margin of error. If the deviation is within the margin of error, an altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is increased. If the aircraft is determined to still be maneuvering with respect to the centerline of the target runway, the altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is decreased. Otherwise, an alert is generated if the aircraft is outside of the RAAS envelope.

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a runway landing alert for an aircraft. The method comprises establishing a Runway Awareness Advisory System (RAAS) envelope for the designated target runway of the aircraft. A track of the aircraft is monitored with reference to a centerline of the target runway. Any deviation by the aircraft from the centerline of the target runway is detected and determined if it is within a margin of error. If the deviation is within the margin of error, an altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is increased. If the aircraft is determined to still be maneuvering with respect to the centerline of the target runway, the altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is decreased. Otherwise, an alert is generated if the aircraft is outside of the RAAS envelope.

A ground marker for use in identifying a location associated with a mission performed by an aerial vehicle includes a visible surface with aspects that are positioned at different vertical heights or elevations. The vertical variation in the aspects of the visible surface enhances a level of visibility of the ground marker within images captured by cameras provided aboard the aerial vehicle, resulting in more accurate estimations of ranges to such markers (e.g., altitudes) determined from such images. The visible surface includes one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar codes, alphanumeric characters and symbols thereon and is provided on or within rigid or flexible frames that are adapted to be placed on ground surfaces at the location associated with the mission.

A ground marker for use in identifying a location associated with a mission performed by an aerial vehicle includes a visible surface with aspects that are positioned at different vertical heights or elevations. The vertical variation in the aspects of the visible surface enhances a level of visibility of the ground marker within images captured by cameras provided aboard the aerial vehicle, resulting in more accurate estimations of ranges to such markers (e.g., altitudes) determined from such images. The visible surface includes one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar codes, alphanumeric characters and symbols thereon and is provided on or within rigid or flexible frames that are adapted to be placed on ground surfaces at the location associated with the mission.

Provided is an aircraft docking guidance system using a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanner, including a laser scanner configured to acquire data related to aircraft docking guidance and docking control; a database configured to store information related to specifications and characteristics of each aircraft type that is a target of the aircraft docking guidance and docking control using the laser scanner; a communicator configured to transmit and receive information between the laser scanner and the database; and a data analysis decision algorithm processing unit configured to determine information of an object by comparing image information acquired through the laser scanner and information stored in the database.

Provided is an aircraft docking guidance system using a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanner, including a laser scanner configured to acquire data related to aircraft docking guidance and docking control; a database configured to store information related to specifications and characteristics of each aircraft type that is a target of the aircraft docking guidance and docking control using the laser scanner; a communicator configured to transmit and receive information between the laser scanner and the database; and a data analysis decision algorithm processing unit configured to determine information of an object by comparing image information acquired through the laser scanner and information stored in the database.

The present invention relates to a method for assisting the landing of an aircraft on a landing runway, the method comprising: detecting, by a radar, characteristic elements of the landing runway, determining the angular offset between the axis of the radar and the runway axis as a function of the coordinates of the characteristic elements detected, and determining, as a function of the angular offset determined and the coordinates of the characteristic elements detected: the distance of the orthogonal projection onto the runway axis from the horizontal projection of the radar, and the distance of the orthogonal projection onto the straight line passing through the runway threshold from the horizontal projection of the radar.

The present invention relates to a method for assisting the landing of an aircraft on a landing runway, the method comprising: detecting, by a radar, characteristic elements of the landing runway, determining the angular offset between the axis of the radar and the runway axis as a function of the coordinates of the characteristic elements detected, and determining, as a function of the angular offset determined and the coordinates of the characteristic elements detected: the distance of the orthogonal projection onto the runway axis from the horizontal projection of the radar, and the distance of the orthogonal projection onto the straight line passing through the runway threshold from the horizontal projection of the radar.