Man-machine interface for pilot assistance
View Patent ↗A man-machine interface for assisting a pilot during takeoff or landing of an airborne vehicle in reduced external visibility includes a display which represents a virtual scenario from the perspective of a virtual observer who is himself located behind the airborne vehicle and is in the same flight attitude as the airborne vehicle itself. The virtual scenario includes a base plane which symbolizes an idealized ground surface, calculated from the instantaneous value of the altitude above ground and the instantaneous flight attitude data of the aircraft. The base plane is bounded by an artificial horizon and is continuously updated with the instantaneous flying state data and the instantaneous height above ground. The virtual scenario also includes a symbol which represents the airborne vehicle, and the position of the symbol relative to the base plane represents the current flight attitude and the instantaneous height of the airborne vehicle above ground.
1. A man-machine interface for assisting a pilot during take-off or landing of an airborne vehicle in reduced external visibility, said interface comprising:
a display which represents a virtual scenario from the perspective of a virtual observer who is located behind the airborne vehicle and is in the same flight attitude as the airborne vehicle itself; wherein,
the virtual scenario includes a base plane which symbolizes an idealized ground surface, determined from an instantaneous value of the altitude above ground and instantaneous flight attitude data of the airborne vehicle;
the base plane is bounded by an artificial horizon and is continuously updated with instantaneous flying state data and instantaneous height of the airborne vehicle above ground;
the virtual scenario further includes a symbol which represents the airborne vehicle;
a position of the symbol relative to the base plane represents a current flight attitude and the instantaneous height of the airborne vehicle above ground; and
an instantaneous drift rate and direction of the airborne vehicle above ground are represented in the virtual scenario by perspective projection of a drift vector onto one of the base plane and a plane parallel to the base plane.
2. The man-machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical from the airborne vehicle to the base plane is represented in the virtual scenario.
3. The man-machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein a shadow of the airborne vehicle on the base plane is represented in the virtual scenario.
4. The man-machine interface according to claim 3 , wherein the shadow is represented based on one of current time of day and a fixed position of a virtual light source.
5. The man-machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein detected, a moving or static obstruction is represented in the virtual scenario by a perspective projection of a danger sector, within which said obstruction is located, on one of the base plane and a plane parallel to the base plane.
6. The man-machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein:
an intended landing point on the base plane is represented in the virtual scenario; and
said position is determined by one of a helmet mounted sight, a digital trigger and flight attitude data.
7. The man-machine interface according to claim 6 , wherein position is determined by also taking into consideration 3D data of land terrain.
8. The man-machine interface according to claim 6 , which the base plane has superimposed on it a three-dimensional representation of an actual area surrounding the landing point, with a topographical ground surface and non-ground objects, based on data.