Route image generating system, device, and method
A present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating a route image presentable on a display unit is disclosed, where a route may be presented to draw a viewer's attention to one or more objects located along or below the route. An image generator (“IG”) may be configured to receive navigation data; receive object data; construct one or more raised ground track profiles as a function of the first elevations and one or more object clearance distances; identify, if any, one or more penetrated segments of one or more raised ground track profiles; and generate an image data set representative of an image of a divisible route configured to present a plurality of route section highlighters comprised of one or more first route section highlighters corresponding to non-penetrated segment(s) and at least one second or subsequent route section highlighters corresponding to first or subsequent penetrated segment(s), respectively.
1. A system for presenting a route image on a display unit, such system comprising:
an indicating system configured to:
receive an image data set representative of an image of a divisible route provided by
an image generator including at least one avionics system processor capable of executing processor-executable code and configured to
receive navigation data representative of at least aircraft position and heading from a source of navigation data;
retrieve object data based upon the navigation data from a source of object data, where
the object data is representative of first locations and first elevations of a plurality of cells located along or below a route;
construct a first raised ground track profile as a function of the first elevations and a first object clearance distance;
identify, if any, at least one first penetrated segment of the first raised ground track profile, where
a length of each first penetrated segment is dependent upon a length of penetration of the first raised ground track profile;
generate the image data set, such that
the image of the divisible route is comprised of
at least one first route section highlighter, and
if a first penetrated segment exists, at least one second route section highlighter, where
each first route section highlighter corresponds to a non-penetrated segment,
each second route section highlighter corresponds to a first penetrated segment, and
the lengths of each first route section highlighter and each second route section highlighter are dependent upon the length of each first penetrated segment; and
present the image of the divisible route on at least one display unit, whereby
the attention of a viewer is drawn to at least one penetrated segment, if any, highlighted by a second route section highlighter.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the navigation data is further representative of airport and runway information.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the route is comprised of a predicted ground track, and
each route section highlighter is comprised of a ground track section highlighter.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the route is comprised of a flight plan, and
each route section highlighter is comprised of a flight pathway section highlighter.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first object clearance distance is fixed or variable.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the image generator is further configured to
construct a second raised ground track profile as a function of the first elevations and a second object clearance distance,
identify, if any, at least one second penetrated segment of the second raised ground track profile, where
a length of each second penetrated segment is dependent upon a length of penetration of the second raised ground track profile, and
the plurality of route section highlighters is further comprised of, if a second penetrated segment exists, at least one third route section highlighter, where
each third route section highlighter
corresponds to a second penetrated segment, and
supersedes a part of a second route section highlighter.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein
the image generator is further configured to
construct a third raised ground track profile as a function of the first elevations and a third object clearance distance,
identify, if any, at least one third penetrated segment of the third raised ground track profile, where
a length of each third penetrated segment is dependent upon a length of penetration of the third raised ground track profile, and
the plurality of route section highlighters is further comprised of, if a third penetrated segment exists, at least one fourth route section highlighter, where
each fourth route section highlighter
corresponds to a third penetrated segment, and
supersedes a part of a third route section highlighter.
8. A device for generating a route image presentable on
a display unit, such device comprising:
an image generator including at least one avionics system processor capable of executing processor-executable code and configured to
receive navigation data representative of at least aircraft position and heading from a source of navigation data;
retrieve object data based upon the navigation data from a source of object data, where
the object data is representative of first locations and first elevations of a plurality of cells located along or below a route;
construct a first raised ground track profile as a function of the first elevations and a first object clearance distance;
identify, if any, at least one first penetrated segment of the first raised ground track profile, where
a length of each first penetrated segment is dependent upon a length of penetration of the first raised ground track profile;
generate an image data set representative of an image of a divisible route comprised of
at least one first route section highlighter, and
if a first penetrated segment exists, at least one second route section highlighter, where
each first route section highlighter corresponds to a non-penetrated segment,
each second route section highlighter corresponds to a first penetrated segment, and
the lengths of each first route section highlighter and each second route section highlighter are dependent upon the length of each first penetrated segment; and
provide the image data set to an indicating system, where
the image of a divisible route is presentable to a viewer, whereby
the attention of the viewer is drawn to at least one penetrated segment, if any, highlighted by a second route section highlighter.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein
the route is comprised of a predicted ground track, and
each route section highlighter is comprised of a ground track section highlighter.
10. The device of claim 8 , wherein
the route is comprised of a flight plan, and
each route section highlighter is comprised of a flight pathway section highlighter.
11. The device of claim 8 , wherein
the image generator is further configured to
construct a second raised ground track profile as a function of the first elevations and a second object clearance distance; and
identify, if any, at least one second penetrated segment of the second raised ground track profile, where
a length of each second penetrated segment is dependent upon a length of penetration of the second raised ground track profile, and
the plurality of route section highlighters is further comprised of, if a second penetrated segment exists, at least one third route section highlighter, where
each third route section highlighter
corresponds to a second penetrated segment, and
supersedes a part of a second route section highlighter.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein
the image generator is further configured to
construct a third raised ground track profile as a function of the first elevations and a third object clearance distance; and
identify, if any, at least one third penetrated segment of the third raised ground track profile, where
a length of each third penetrated segment is dependent upon a length of penetration of the third raised ground track profile, and
the plurality of route section highlighters is further comprised of, if a third penetrated segment exists, at least one fourth route section highlighter, where
each fourth route section highlighter
corresponds to a third penetrated segment, and
supersedes a part of a third route section highlighter.
13. A method for generating a route image presentable on a display unit, such method comprising:
receiving, at least one avionics system processor executing processor-executable code, navigation data representative of at least aircraft position and heading from a navigation data source;
retrieving object data based upon the navigation data from a source of object data, where
the object data is representative of first locations and first elevations of a plurality of cells located along or below a route;
constructing a first raised ground track profile as a function of the first elevations and a first object clearance distance;
identifying, if any, at least one first penetrated segment of the first raised ground track profile, where
a length of each first penetrated segment is dependent upon a length of penetration of the first raised ground track profile;
generating an image data set representative of an image of a divisible route comprised of
at least one first route section highlighter, and
if a first penetrated segment exists, at least one second route section highlighter, where
each first route section highlighter corresponds to a non-penetrated segment,
each second route section highlighter corresponds to a first penetrated segment, and
the lengths of each first route section highlighter and each second route section highlighter are dependent upon the length of each first penetrated segment; and
providing the image data set to an indicating system, where
the image of a divisible route is presentable to a viewer, whereby
the attention of the viewer is drawn to at least one penetrated segment, if any, highlighted by a second route section highlighter.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein
the route is comprised of a predicted ground track, and
each route section highlighter is comprised of a ground track section highlighter.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein
the route is comprised of a flight plan, and
each route section highlighter is comprised of a flight pathway section highlighter.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
constructing a second raised ground track profile as a function of the first elevations and a second object clearance distance; and
identifying, if any, at least one second penetrated segment of the second raised ground track profile, where
a length of each second penetrated segment is dependent upon a length of penetration of the second raised ground track profile, and
the plurality of route section highlighters is further comprised of, if a second penetrated segment exists, at least one third route section highlighter, where
each third route section highlighter
corresponds to a second penetrated segment, and
supersedes a part of a second route section highlighter.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
constructing a third raised ground track profile as a function of the first elevations and a third object clearance distance; and
identifying, if any, at least one third penetrated segment of the third raised ground track profile, where
a length of each third penetrated segment is dependent upon a length of penetration of the third raised ground track profile, and
the plurality of route section highlighters is further comprised of, if a third penetrated segment exists, at least one fourth route section highlighter, where
each fourth route section highlighter
corresponds to a third penetrated segment, and
supersedes a part of a third route section highlighter.