A display system for aircraft for showing the attitude, particularly the rolling and pitching position or the flight path angle, comprising a windshield projection device (HUD "HEAD-UP DISPLAY") with devices for generating and displaying an airplane symbol, a symbol which is stabilized fixed to earth for the displaying of the position of the true horizon as well as for generating and displaying symbols for the rolling and pitching angle or of the path angle in the exterior field of view of the pilot as a function of the values measured by the corresponding instruments. In this case, a display of the attitude is generated by means of a reference symbol representing the airplane and an information symbol which changes with respect to the reference symbol in its position and shape--and is dependent on the rolling angle (.phi.) and pitching angle (.theta.) or path angle (.gamma.).
Disclosed is an improvement to the guidance, during the approach and landing stages, of aircraft operating in the categories 2 or 3A of the certification system used by recognized civilian organizations such as the DGAC, the FAA or the JAA, this improvement being designed to render the aircraft capable of working in the immediately lower category, namely the 3A or 3B category, at lower cost. The improvement consists of the addition of a head-up display visor HUD to the attitude heading reference system AHRS and to the air data computer ADC and of the displaying, on the head-up display visor HUD, of the flight path vector whose angular coordinates are drawn from information on east-west and north-south horizontal ground speed delivered by a global positioning receiver GPS according to the avionics standard furthermore used for the localization and navigation of the aircraft. This improvement has the advantage of enabling passage to the immediately lower certification category without requiring the on-board carriage of an inertial platform which is a device that is costly to purchase as well as to maintain.
A programmable symbology is provided that defines a series of geometric forms in the visual field of a pilot. The symbology includes a virtual representation of a predicted flight path of the aircraft and a virtual representation of a projected contact point with an external object, including the ground. The symbology also provides a virtual representation of a predicted flight path of the aircraft that is projected onto the ground below the projected flight path as a ground path predictor. The symbology further provides a critical slowing air speed indicator.
The invention relates to systems for aiding the piloting of aircraft, mainly for take-off and landing under poor conditions of visibility. In order to benefit from the contribution of head-up displays, which exhibit symbols for the artificial horizon line, aircraft longitudinal attitude and ground speed vector, without using an IRS inertial unit to supply the heading and attitude information, it is proposed to use a non-inertial AHRS unit associated with a compass, and periodically to correct the information which it supplies, in order to exhibit the attitude symbols with the aid of the corrected information rather than the raw information from the AHRS unit. The correction is given by two GPS receivers (GPS1, GPS2) associated with antennas (A1, A2) on the top of the aircraft, an interferometric measurement of radiofrequency carrier phase being made to determine a direction vector of the aircraft. Application to the modernisation of aircraft equipped with non-inertial AHRS units so as to allow landings and take-offs in all conditions, including conditions of very poor visibility.
A system for operating equipment, aircraft or other like vessels in a smoke filled environment. The system includes a face mask configured to surround a user's eyes and form an airtight seal against the user's face. The mask includes a screen viewable by the user for displaying critical operating system information that permits continued operation of the equipment or aircraft. A signal path means provides the display screen with appropriate signals from instrument display sources of the equipment or aircraft. One embodiment of the system includes a hand-operated communication device that enables non-verbal communication with others. Another embodiment of the system includes independently powered backup instruments covering minimum critical equipment or aircraft operating conditions. The backup instruments would be coupled to the mask by the signal path means in the event that the equipment or aircraft's instruments should become inoperable due to fire and/or electrical power interruption. Still another embodiment of the system includes a respirator which is integral with the mask and provides oxygen to the user.
A system and method for displaying a three-dimensional image of airspace includes a series of translucent, horizontal "pavers" that lie like stepping stones marking the selected flight path. In addition, the display includes a series of vertical rectangles--called "wickets"--which bracket the selected flight path. One or more of the wickets may include a graphical representation of the direction of the aircraft should be flying through the wicket. The system accommodates changes in course by generating a new flight path when instructed to do so. The new flight path is created in a way that assures continuous guidance for the pilot and sufficient time for the pilot to adjust to the new course. The display can include a compass rose which indicates the aircraft's present heading and direction of flight. The compass rose is generated from data representing a traditional two-dimensional view of a compass rose that is rotated using a graphics processor to show a three dimensional view of the compass rose in a plane that appears nearly horizontal in the three dimensional airspace image. In addition various landmarks such as airports and navigation beacons, as well as geopolitical boundaries may be included in the display.
