GB2341505A

GB2341505A - Obstacle warning system

Info

Publication number: GB2341505A
Application number: GB9914954A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marius Dupuis
Original assignee: Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 1998-06-25
Filing date: 1999-06-25
Publication date: 2000-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-25
Also published as: ITMI991306A0; DE19828317A1; FR2783072B1; ITMI991306A1; FR2783072A1; GB9914954D0; GB2341505B

Abstract

A colour coded display for range information. The range sensor and display means may for example be fitted to a helicopter or other aircraft. Linear interpolation can be used in order to reduce the quantity of data processed, Preferably, red is only used in the close range, i.e. at a distance from the helicopter position up to the first colour change.

Description

11, i_ 2341505 Obstacle Warning System The present invention relates to a

device and a method for environment displays on display screens in aircraft.

As described, for example, in US Patent 5 459 824, it is conventionally possible with a navigational display to convert image data into colour data for a CRT display for a map display or the display of the current position with reference to a look-up table in accordance with a pallette selected or defined by the user.

The colour scheme of a displayed image can of course be changed by selecting a different look-up is table, but there is no distinction between nearer regions and farther regions, with the result that it is more difficult for the pilot to recognize near obstacles because he himself must recognize the obstacle which is currently relevant to him from the quantity of information displayed.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to create a device for environment displays on display screens in aircraft, with which a simple, rapid recognition of obstacles, in particular the obstacles nearest to the aircraft, is made possible.

In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by analysing the image in terms of the distance of each point in it from the subject, assigning a colour to each point on the basis of the corresponding distance, and displaying the image in those colours. To simplify calculation a set of colour ranges can be used, and a suitable interpolation technique applied within each range.

In preferred embodiments, for navigation for avoiding collisions the interpretation of the colour scheme can be made simple for the pilot because in close range, i.e. the danger range, red tones are used, while blue tones are used for the sky and subdued colours are used for the remaining area. Of course, the colours themselves are not the subject of the invention so much as the capacity to display them according to predetermined criteria.

For a better understanding of the invention an embodiment will now be described, by way of example.

In the following, the example of the device and method in accordance with the invention uses the distance-coded obstacle-warning symbolism of the all weather-capable rescue helicopter (AWRH) display system.

The device in accordance with the invention and is the method in accordance with the invention are intended to supply the pilot of an aircraft, for example a helicopter, with an easily understandable display of distance data detected by an obstacle sensor, for example an obstacle warning laser of a heli-radar system.

For this purpose images are generated from the obstacle sensor distance data by means of colour coding, which images produce an impression of the elements and objects which surround the sensor. The distance image obtained by the sensor is processed and is displayed on the entire screen.

In the process, colours are defined for all distance ranges, in particular for the sky and other non-reflecting surfaces, for example rivers, lakes etc.

By way of the specified colour-coding, maximum contrast between objects that are adjacent or that lie one behind the other is guaranteed.

In particular, different colour ranges are differentiated in the display, with each belonging to a certain distance range.

The main emphasis in the colour display is placed on the following two viewpoints:

the contrast between different colour ranges is to be optimized; and the colour red is only to be used for warning purposes.

Red is therefore only used for the first (usable) range, i.e. the close range, at a distance from the helicopter position up to the first colour change.

Each colour range is defined by the RGB values at the start distance and the stop (end) distance. For distances between these limits the RGB values are interpolated with the following linear algorithm:

c = (d-dstart) / (dstop-dstart) (Cstop-Cstart) +Cstart, where c is the calculated R, G or B value, d is the current distance between sensor and is obstacle, dst,wt is the start distance of the colour range, dstop is the stop distance of the colour range, Cstart is the R,G,B value at the start distance of the range, and Cstop is the R,G,B value at the stop distance.

In an exemplary colour scheme the following range values are used:

Distance [m] Red value Green value Blue value [0-2551 0 -2 55] [0 -2551 100000 0 0 0 2000 0 0 0 1000 200 200 200 800 226 226 108 550 30 80 30 350 252 252 20 275 60 40 73 200 200 0 255 0 0 9 45 45 110 0 45 45 110 4 By means of the device and method in accordance with the invention obstacle recognition is therefore substantially simplified for the pilot. Preferably the colour scheme is kept intuitive, with red tones being used in the close range (danger range), blue tones being used for the sky and subdued colours for the remaining areas. The interpretation of the scheme therefore does not require any special training and the impression of a natural environment can be produced.

Claims

1. A device for colour-coding of environment displays on display screens in aircraft, having:

a sensor for detecting distance data for surrounding elements or objects, and a device for processing the distance data detected by the sensor and having means for allocating different colour ranges to the distance data corresponding to previously established distance ranges and means for displaying these colours on the display screen.

2. A device according to claim 1, with each colour range being defined by RGB values at the start and end distances of the range.

3. A device according to claim 2, including means for interpolating the RGB values for distances between the start and end distances.

4. A device according to claim 3, with the RGB values being interpolated with the following linear algorithm:

c = (d-dstt) / (dstop-dstart) (Cstop-Cstrt) +Cstart, where c is the calculated R, G or B value, d is the current distance between sensor and obstacle, dsta=t is the start distance of the colour range.

dstop is the stop distance of the colour range, Csurt is the R,G,B value at the start distance and Cstop is the R,G,B value at the stop distance.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, with the colour red only being used in the first range at a distance from the aircraft position up to the first colour change.

6. A method for colour-coding of environment displays on display screens in aircraft, having the steps:

detection of distance data for surrounding elements or objects by a sensor, processing the distance data detected by the sensor, allocating different colour ranges to the distance data according to previously established distance ranges, and displaying these colour ranges on the display screen.

7. A method according to claim 6, with each colour range being defined by the RGB values at the start distance and the end distance of the range.

8. A method according to claim 7, and including the step of interpolating the RGB values during the processing of the distance data, detected by the is sensor, for distances between the start distance and the end distance of the range in question.

9. A method according to claim 8, with the RGB values being interpolated using the following linear algorithm:

c = (d-dst.t) / (dstop-dstart) (Cstop-Cstat) +Cst. t, where c is the calculated R, G or B value, d is the current distance between sensor and obstacle, dst..t is the start distance of the colour range, dstop is the stop distance of the colour range.

Cstart is the R,G,B value at the start distance and Cstop is the R,G,B value at the stop distance.

10.A method according to any of claims 6 to 9, with the colour red only being used in the first range at a distance from the aircraft position up to the first colour change.

11. A device substantially as described herein.

12.A method substantially as described herein.