Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a runway landing alert for an aircraft. The method comprises establishing an altitude parameter and a safety envelope for a 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 is increased. If the aircraft is determined to still be maneuvering with respect to the centerline of the target runway, the altitude parameter is decreased. Otherwise, an alert is generated if the aircraft is outside of the safety envelope.

A method and a system for landing and terrain flight assistance are provided herein. The method may include the following steps: obtaining, by at least one imaging sensor disposed on an aerial platform, at least two images of at least a portion of a specified region of a terrain; determining, based on the at least two images, a 3D model of at least a portion of the specified region; receiving a predetermined model of at least a portion of the specified region; determining a real-world geographic location of the aerial platform based on the 3D model and the predetermined model; and determining flight instructions based on the 3D model and the determined geographic location of the aerial platform.

A method and a system for landing and terrain flight assistance are provided herein. The method may include the following steps: obtaining, by at least one imaging sensor disposed on an aerial platform, at least two images of at least a portion of a specified region of a terrain; determining, based on the at least two images, a 3D model of at least a portion of the specified region; receiving a predetermined model of at least a portion of the specified region; determining a real-world geographic location of the aerial platform based on the 3D model and the predetermined model; and determining flight instructions based on the 3D model and the determined geographic location of the aerial platform.

The present disclosure relates to a method for identification and recognition of an aircraft take-off and landing runway based on a PSPNet network, wherein the method: adopts a residual network ResNet and a lightweight deep neural network MobileNetV2 as the two backbone feature-extraction networks to enhance that feature extraction; at the same time adjusts an original four-layered pyramid pooling module into five layered, with each layer being respectively sized by 9×9, 6×6, 3×3, 2×2, 1×1; uses a finite self-made image about the aircraft take-off and landing terrain for training; and labels and extracts the aircraft take-off and landing runway in the aircraft take-off and landing terrain image. The method effectively combines ResNet and MobileNetV2, and improves the detection accuracy of the aircraft take-off and landing runway in comparison with the prior art.

The present disclosure relates to a method for identification and recognition of an aircraft take-off and landing runway based on a PSPNet network, wherein the method: adopts a residual network ResNet and a lightweight deep neural network MobileNetV2 as the two backbone feature-extraction networks to enhance that feature extraction; at the same time adjusts an original four-layered pyramid pooling module into five layered, with each layer being respectively sized by 9×9, 6×6, 3×3, 2×2, 1×1; uses a finite self-made image about the aircraft take-off and landing terrain for training; and labels and extracts the aircraft take-off and landing runway in the aircraft take-off and landing terrain image. The method effectively combines ResNet and MobileNetV2, and improves the detection accuracy of the aircraft take-off and landing runway in comparison with the prior art.

A method for providing cues to an aerial vehicle operator is disclosed. The method includes: determining when a vehicle is on final approach; processing a plurality of ground images of a ground path ahead of the vehicle; identifying a lane in the processed ground images; determining whether the identified lane corresponds to an assigned runway based on a relative position or a relative geometry of the identified lane; tracking during landing a left and a right side edge, a front edge, and a runway center line of the assigned runway; determining, relative to the runway center line, whether a relative position of the vehicle during landing is left of, right of, or aligned with the runway center line; and providing visual and/or audible guidance to the vehicle operator to take corrective action when the relative position of the vehicle during landing is not aligned with the runway center line.

A method for providing cues to an aerial vehicle operator is disclosed. The method includes: determining when a vehicle is on final approach; processing a plurality of ground images of a ground path ahead of the vehicle; identifying a lane in the processed ground images; determining whether the identified lane corresponds to an assigned runway based on a relative position or a relative geometry of the identified lane; tracking during landing a left and a right side edge, a front edge, and a runway center line of the assigned runway; determining, relative to the runway center line, whether a relative position of the vehicle during landing is left of, right of, or aligned with the runway center line; and providing visual and/or audible guidance to the vehicle operator to take corrective action when the relative position of the vehicle during landing is not aligned with the runway center line.

A landing zone indicator system which includes a battery that is configured to power a controller and a human vision output device, a controller that is configured to control human-visible light that is output by the human vision output device, and a human vision output device where the human-visible light output by the human vision output device generates an illuminated landing zone for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle.

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing a safe landing for a vehicle. The method may include: displaying, on one or more displays, a vehicle, an intended landing zone, and a real-time flight path of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the intended landing zone; receiving data related to one or more of the vehicle, the flight path of the vehicle, the intended landing zone, and an obstacle; determining the proximity of the vehicle relative to the center of the intended landing zone based on the received data; displaying the proximity of the vehicle relative to the center of the intended landing zone; displaying the obstacle when present; displaying an alert when the vehicle deviates in proximity to the center of the intended landing zone and/or approaches the obstacle; and upon determining a failure to respond to the alert computing flight controls to modify landing.

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing a safe landing for a vehicle. The method may include: displaying, on one or more displays, a vehicle, an intended landing zone, and a real-time flight path of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the intended landing zone; receiving data related to one or more of the vehicle, the flight path of the vehicle, the intended landing zone, and an obstacle; determining the proximity of the vehicle relative to the center of the intended landing zone based on the received data; displaying the proximity of the vehicle relative to the center of the intended landing zone; displaying the obstacle when present; displaying an alert when the vehicle deviates in proximity to the center of the intended landing zone and/or approaches the obstacle; and upon determining a failure to respond to the alert computing flight controls to modify landing.