Formation surveillance and collision avoidance
View Patent ↗A display system is disclosed for displaying air traffic symbology from a plurality of different types of air traffic surveillance systems on a single monitor. A display device includes a processor for generating display symbology from TCAS, SKE and ADS-B information, and a monitor for displaying the generated symbology in a uniform format.
1. An apparatus for displaying air traffic symbology, the apparatus comprising:
an interface that receives a first signal;
a memory that includes indicia of symbology for display;
a processor that provides a second signal in accordance with the indicia of symbology selected in accordance with the first signal; and
a monitor, responsive to the processor, that displays a presentation in accordance with the second signal, the presentation comprising:
(1) a first symbol for a proximate formation aircraft; and
(2) a second symbol for a proximate non-formation aircraft, wherein the first symbol differs in appearance from the second symbol.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 adapted for receiving the first signal from a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS).
3. The apparatus of claim 1 adapted for receiving the first signal from a Station Keeping Equipment.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 adapted for receiving the first signal from time to time from each of a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and a Station Keeping Equipment.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the presentation associates at least one of the first symbol and the second symbol with a respective type of surveillance equipment operating on board the respective aircraft.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the type corresponds to at least one of: station keeping equipment only, station keeping equipment with transponder, and transponder only.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the presentation further comprises for each symbol indicia of identification of the corresponding aircraft.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the presentation associates at least one of the first symbol and the second symbol with a respective type of surveillance equipment operating on board the respective aircraft;
the presentation further comprises for each symbol indicia of identification of the corresponding aircraft; and
the indicia of identification is presented in a same format for each type.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the presentation further associates with at least one of the first symbol and the second symbol at least one of a velocity vector, a cross track error, and an acceleration.