Runway incursion detection system and method for displaying a runway incursion
A method for displaying a runway incursion for an aircraft includes electronically gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system, employing a runway incursion algorithm to the traffic information data to detect a collision hazard, automatically calculating incursion data, and displaying the incursion data. A runway incursion detection system has a display unit, a computer and a software product that enables methodology herein.
1. A method for displaying a runway incursion for an aircraft, comprising:
electronically gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system;
employing a runway incursion algorithm to said traffic information data to detect a collision hazard;
automatically calculating incursion data, wherein said incursion data comprises data representative of:
an incursion point,
an incursion time,
an aircraft trend vector, and
a collision hazard trend vector; and
displaying said incursion point, said incursion time, said aircraft trend vector, and said collision hazard vector on a display unit, where
said incursion point is depicted as a graphic,
said incursion time is depicted within said graphic, and
said aircraft trend vector and said collision hazard trend vector have different appearances.
2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said aircraft trend vector is truncated at said graphic; and
said collision hazard trend vector is truncated at said graphic.
3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the appearance of said aircraft trend vector is animated, of said collision hazard trend vector is animated, or both are animated.
4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein said incursion data is based on:
aircraft position;
aircraft velocity;
aircraft heading;
collision hazard position;
collision hazard velocity; and
collision hazard heading.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said traffic information data provides data representative of:
said hazard position;
said collision hazard velocity; and
said collision hazard heading.
6. A runway incursion detection system for an aircraft, comprising:
a display unit;
a computer; and
a software product comprising instructions, stored on a computer-readable media, wherein said instructions, when executed by said computer, perform steps for evaluating a runway incursion and displaying the runway incursion on said display unit, said instructions comprising instructions for:
gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system;
employing a runway incursion algorithm to said traffic information data to detect a collision hazard;
automatically calculating incursion data, wherein said incursion data comprises data representative of:
an incursion point,
an incursion time,
an aircraft trend vector, and
a collision hazard trend vector; and
said incursion point, said incursion time, said aircraft trend vector, and said collision hazard trend vector on said display unit, where
said incursion point is depicted as a graphic,
said incursion time is depicted within said graphic, and
said aircraft trend vector and said collision hazard trend vector have different appearances.
7. The system as in claim 6 , wherein said instructions for displaying said aircraft trend vector and said collision hazard trend vector comprise instructions for:
animating the appearance of said aircraft trend vector;
animating the appearance of said collision hazard trend vector; or
animating the appearance of both.