Device for aiding the navigation and guidance of an aircraft, and system comprising such a device

1. An assistance device for navigation and guidance of an aircraft, said device ( 1 ) comprising:

first calculation means ( 6 ) for determining a position of the aircraft;

second calculation means ( 7 ) for determining deviations between said position of the aircraft and a current segment of a flight trajectory; and

transmission means ( 8 ) for transmitting such deviations to a guidance calculator ( 39 ),

means ( 15 ) for calculating consolidated accuracy and integrity data, being associated with consolidated positions and consolidated speeds of the aircraft,

wherein:

said device comprises at least one calculator ( 2 ) being on board the aircraft, into which said first and second calculation means ( 6 , 7 ) and said transmission means ( 8 ) are integrated, and which further comprises at least the following integrated means:

first reception means ( 3 A, 3 B) for receiving a set of successive segments of a flight trajectory to be followed by the aircraft;

memorization means ( 4 ) for recording said segments; and

second reception means ( 5 A, 5 B, 5 C) for receiving, repeatedly, respectively from at least three different sources of information ( 36 , 37 , 38 ), current position information for the aircraft;

said first calculation means ( 6 ) are formed so as to determine, repeatedly, a consolidated position of the aircraft, from said current position information;

said second calculation means ( 7 ) are formed so as to determine, repeatedly, the deviations between said consolidated position and a current segment of the flight trajectory, being recorded in said memorization means ( 4 ); and

said device ( 1 ) is replicated on at least three different and independent channels so that all the processings performed by said device ( 1 ) are simultaneously carried out on said at least three channels.

2. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising means for dating the deviations being transmitted to said guidance calculator ( 39 ).

3. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

auxiliary reception means ( 5 A, 5 B, 5 C) for receiving, repeatedly, respectively from at least three different sources of information ( 36 , 37 , 38 ), current speed information for the aircraft;

auxiliary calculation means ( 6 ) for determining, repeatedly, a consolidated speed of the aircraft, by means of said current speed information.

4. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising means ( 17 ) for estimating a total system error.

5. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising means ( 19 ) for determining an ability of the aircraft to carry out a particular performance demanding operation.

6. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising means ( 21 ) for synchronizing data coming from several different sources ( 36 , 37 , 38 ).

7. An assistance device for navigation and guidance of an aircraft, said device ( 1 ) comprising:

first calculation means ( 6 ) for determining a position of the aircraft;

second calculation means ( 7 ) for determining deviations between said position of the aircraft and a current segment of a flight trajectory; and

transmission means ( 8 ) for transmitting such deviations to a guidance calculator ( 39 ),

means ( 22 ) for determining delays in a navigation and guidance chain,

wherein:

said device comprises at least one calculator ( 2 ) being on board the aircraft, into which said first and second calculation means ( 6 , 7 ) and said transmission means ( 8 ) are integrated, and which further comprises at least the following integrated means:

first reception means ( 3 A, 3 B) for receiving a set of successive segments of a flight trajectory to be followed by the aircraft;

memorization means ( 4 ) for recording said segments; and

second reception means ( 5 A, 5 B, 5 C) for receiving, repeatedly, respectively from at least three different sources of information ( 36 , 37 , 38 ), current position information for the aircraft;

said first calculation means ( 6 ) are formed so as to determine, repeatedly, a consolidated position of the aircraft, from said current position information;

said second calculation means ( 7 ) are formed so as to determine, repeatedly, the deviations between said consolidated position and a current segment of the flight trajectory, being recorded in said memorization means ( 4 ); and

said device ( 1 ) is replicated on at least three different and independent channels so that all the processings performed by said device ( 1 ) are simultaneously carried out on said at least three channels.

8. An assistance device for navigation and guidance of an aircraft, said device ( 1 ) comprising:

first calculation means ( 6 ) for determining a position of the aircraft;

second calculation means ( 7 ) for determining deviations between said position of the aircraft and a current segment of a flight trajectory; and

transmission means ( 8 ) for transmitting such deviations to a guidance calculator ( 39 ),

means ( 23 , 25 , 27 ) for correcting the effect of delays in a navigation and guidance chain, so as to minimize a guidance error,

wherein:

said device comprises at least one calculator ( 2 ) being on board the aircraft, into which said first and second calculation means ( 6 , 7 ) and said transmission means ( 8 ) are integrated, and which further comprises at least the following integrated means:

first reception means ( 3 A, 3 B) for receiving a set of successive segments of a flight trajectory to be followed by the aircraft;

memorization means ( 4 ) for recording said segments; and

second reception means ( 5 A, 5 B, 5 C) for receiving, repeatedly, respectively from at least three different sources of information ( 36 , 37 , 38 ), current position information for the aircraft;

said first calculation means ( 6 ) are formed so as to determine, repeatedly, a consolidated position of the aircraft, from said current position information;

said second calculation means ( 7 ) are formed so as to determine, repeatedly, the deviations between said consolidated position and a current segment of the flight trajectory, being recorded in said memorization means ( 4 ); and

said device ( 1 ) is replicated on at least three different and independent channels so that all the processings performed by said device ( 1 ) are simultaneously carried out on said at least three channels.

9. A navigating and guidance system for an aircraft, comprising:

means ( 32 ) generating a set of successive segments of a flight trajectory to be followed by the aircraft;

a set ( 34 ) of at least three different sources of information ( 36 , 37 , 38 ), each generating current position information of the aircraft;

a device ( 1 ) such as specified according to claim 1 , for determining deviations between a consolidated position of the aircraft, beforehand calculated through said current position information, and a current segment of said flight trajectory;

a guidance calculator ( 39 ) elaborating, at least by means of the deviations determined by said device ( 1 ), guidance orders intended for guiding the aircraft along said flight trajectory; and

actuation means ( 41 ) for actuating control members ( 42 ) of the aircraft, as a function of the guidance orders elaborated by said guidance calculator ( 39 ).