JP2000352584A - Method and device for supporting navigation and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent deviation from a prescribed flight region, and to improve safety by synthesizing the image data of the prescribed flight region with a map image being shown on a display for indicating on the display. SOLUTION: By referring to the current position information of an aircraft being given by a navigation system, image data indicating a prescribed flight region existing in a display area on a display is generated based on the set region information of the prescribed flight region. Then, by an image synthetic means, the image data of the prescribed flight region is synthesized with a map image being shown on a display for indicating on the display. For example, the position of own aircraft is indicated by a marker (pointer) on the map for showing deviation form a course zone (specified course zone), thus displaying an arrow for indicating a return route on the display, and hence allowing a pilot to fly along the return route for returning to the specified course zone). Also, in the case of the deviation, voice announcement reports the deviation to the pilot.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device for supporting safe operation of an aircraft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, GPS (Global Position
ng System) has been developed, and is known as, for example, a car navigation system. Similarly, in the field of aircraft, there is a device (digital map device) for displaying the current position on a display together with a map of the surrounding area.

[0003] However, in this type of conventional apparatus, the position of the apparatus itself is merely displayed superimposed on a digital map. For this reason, the pilot can only know the geographical position of the aircraft or a specific point, and information such as whether the pilot is flying along the sea lane or flying in the designated airspace. I couldn't get it. For this reason, there is a risk of deviating from the sea zone or designated airspace,
I was worried about safety.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional navigation apparatus for an aircraft, the current position of the aircraft is only displayed on the map in a superimposed manner. There was fear that it was difficult to say that sufficient safety was secured.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
Its purpose is to prevent departure from the prescribed flight area, thereby improving the safety of the navigation support device,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation support method and a recording medium.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a navigation support device for displaying a map around the current position of an aircraft on a display installed in a cockpit. Flight area information acquisition means for acquiring set area information (such as the ground, the range covering the sea and the latitude and longitude of the set place) for a specified flight area (for example, airspace or sea zone), and generation of specified area image data Means and an image synthesizing means.

The specified area image data generating means refers to the current position information of the aircraft provided from a navigation device such as a GPS, and refers to image data indicating a specified flight area existing in a display area of the display. Is generated based on the acquired set area information of the specified flight area, and the image data of the specified flight area is synthesized with the map image displayed on the display by the image synthesizing means. Is displayed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the designated airspace, restricted airspace or sea zone set around the current position of the aircraft is displayed on the display by being superimposed on the peripheral map by a graphic such as a square or a circle. You. As a result, the pilot of the aircraft can easily grasp the positional relationship between the aircraft and the prescribed flight area.

Further, the present invention is further provided with a deviation alarm notifying means. Then, the departure warning notifying means compares the acquired set area information of the specified flight area with the current position of the aircraft, and if the aircraft deviates from the specified flight area, notifies the pilot Is to be notified.

[0010] By adopting such means, if the aircraft deviates from the prescribed flight area, the fact is notified to the pilot by voice, for example, so that the pilot can be surely recognized. And improve the safety of navigation. In addition, when the aircraft does not deviate from the prescribed flight area, there is a possibility that the departure warning informing means may inform the pilot of the fact that there is a possibility that the aircraft does not deviate from the prescribed flight area.

Further, the present invention further comprises return route calculation means, and when the aircraft deviates from the prescribed flight area, the return position calculation means also calculates the current position, heading and speed of the aircraft. Then, a return route for the aircraft to return within the prescribed flight area is calculated. Then, the image combining means combines the map data displayed on the display with image data of the return route in addition to the prescribed flight area, and displays the data on the display.

As a result, even if the vehicle deviates from the airspace or the sea zone, the return route is displayed on the display, so that the psychological burden on the pilot can be reduced.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This navigation support device is used, for example, mounted on an aircraft equipped with a navigation device such as a GPS. The present apparatus is realized by a computer which reads a program recorded on a recording medium such as a semiconductor disk, and whose operation is controlled by the program.

In FIG. 1, latitude and longitude information, speed information, and heading information (own aircraft information) of an aircraft are provided to a processing unit 2 via an input unit 1 from a navigation device (not shown). . The processing unit 2 is realized as, for example, a microcomputer or the like, reads data stored in the storage unit 3 based on a programmed processing procedure, and displays an image on the display unit 4 or outputs a sound from the speaker 5. Various related controls are executed.

The storage unit 3 has a random access memory (RAM).
ry), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or flash memory (flash EEPROM: Flash)
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memor
y) etc. to store temporary data generated when the program is executed, and to store the map database 3
1, airspace database 32, and sea route zone database 3
3 is stored.

The map database 31 is a database of map information of areas related to the operation of aircraft, and is, for example, graphic data in a bitmap format or a compressed format. The airspace database 32 and the route zone database 33 are databases in which the positions of the set airspace and the route zone are associated with the coordinates in the map database 31. When a new airspace is set, the data stored in the storage unit 3 may be updated (or added) by a manual input operation from the operation unit 6.

The processing section 2 outputs a map image, an airspace / route image, a return route image, and deviation information. Among these, the map image, the airspace / route image, and the return route image are provided to the image synthesizing unit 7, and the respective images are synthesized and displayed on the display 4. The deviation information is provided to the voice conversion unit 8, converted into a voice signal, and output from the speaker 5.

The processing section 2 includes a map image generating means 21, an airspace / route image generating means 22, a departure warning notifying means 23, and a return route calculating means 24 as processing functions according to the present embodiment. ing. Among these, the map image generating means 21 obtains its own latitude / longitude information via the input unit 1 and, based on this, refers to the map database 31 and converts map data on a predetermined scale around the current position. The image data is read out and output to the image synthesizing unit 7 as a map image.

The airspace / route image generating means 22 includes an input unit 1
And obtains the latitude / longitude information of the own device through the air space database 32 and the air route database 33 based on the information.
The image data of the channel is read out and output to the image synthesizing section 7 as an airspace / route image.

The departure warning notifying means 23 obtains its own latitude / longitude information via the input unit 1, and inputs the information to the lane / longitude information of the airspace in the airspace database 32; Compare with
It is determined whether the aircraft has deviated from the airspace or the sea lane. In addition, the speed information and the heading information of the own aircraft are further acquired via the input unit 1, and similarly, there is a possibility that the aircraft deviates from the airspace and the seaway zone by referring to the airspace database 32 and the seaway zone database 33. Is determined.

When the vehicle has deviated or is likely to deviate, the deviation information is output to the voice conversion unit 8.
The departure information includes voice information indicating the departure.

When the departure warning notifying means 23 determines that the vehicle has deviated, the return route calculating means 24 provides information on the current position (latitude and longitude) of the aircraft, its own speed, and heading information via the input unit 1. , A return route for the aircraft to return to the deviated airspace or sea zone is calculated, and image data (return route image) corresponding to the return route is output to the image synthesis unit.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the processing unit 2.
A description will be given according to a flowchart (FIG. 2) showing the processing procedure of FIG. When a predetermined initialization processing procedure is completed after the apparatus is started, the processing unit 2 first obtains its own latitude / longitude information, speed information, and nose heading information (step S1).
Then, the processing unit 2 displays the current position (latitude / longitude) and the display 4
Map data of a display area (for example, centered on an aircraft) determined according to the display scale of the map database 31
(Step S2), and also reads the image data of the airspace and the sea zone set in the display area (step S3).

Next, the processing unit 2 determines whether or not the own aircraft deviates from the airspace or the sea lane (step S4).
Here, the airspace database 32 and the route zone database 33 are referred to using the latitude and longitude information of the own device as a key. Here, if N (does not deviate), it is determined whether there is a risk of deviation (step S5). Here, the airspace database 32 and the sea route zone database 33 are referred to using the latitude, longitude information, speed information, and nose bearing information of the own aircraft as keys. For example, if the flight toward the boundary of the airspace has continued for a certain period of time, It is determined that there is a risk of departure. Here, if N (there is no risk of departure), the processing unit 2 proceeds to step S6 as it is, and superimposes (for example, surrounds with, for example, a line segment) the airspace and the route zone on the map of the display area. To be displayed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that there is a risk of departure (Y), the processing unit 2 outputs deviation information of "danger of departure" to the voice conversion unit 8 (steps S9 and S9).
10). This deviation information is converted into an audio signal by the audio conversion unit 8 and is output from the speaker 5 as an announcement message such as “Please note that there is a risk of departure from the airspace”.

Similarly, if it is determined at step S4 that the vehicle has already deviated (Y), the processing unit 2 sets the deviation information to "deviation" (step S7), and then departs from the current position in the airspace or route. A return route for returning to the band is calculated, and after outputting the image data of the return route to the image synthesizing unit 7 (step S8), the deviation information is output to the voice conversion unit 8 (step S10).

Thus, the display 4 displays not only the airspace image but also the return route on the map in a superimposed manner.
The speaker 5 outputs an announcement message such as, for example, "Depart from the lane zone and follow the displayed route and return to the lane zone."

FIG. 3 shows a display example on the display unit 4.
As shown in this figure, a range corresponding to an airspace and a sea lane is displayed on a map near the flight position. Your location is marked on the map with a marker (pointer).
It can be seen that the vehicle deviates from the channel (designated channel).
Therefore, an arrow indicating the return route is displayed on the display 4, and the pilot can return to the designated channel zone by flying along the return route.

As described above, in this embodiment, the position of the own device,
Information on the speed and heading is acquired, and map image data around the current position is taken out from a map database 31 prepared in advance in accordance with the information. At the same time, the airspace in the display area is obtained from the airspace database 32 and the route zone database 33. The image data indicating the channel is read. These are superimposed and displayed on the display 4. Therefore, the pilot of the aircraft can surely recognize the relative position of the aircraft with respect to the airspace and the sea lane.

In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the aircraft deviates from the airspace / passage zone, and if so, the pilot is notified by voice announcement. Thus, it is possible to surely recognize the pilot.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the vehicle deviates, a return route is calculated, and this is also displayed on the display 4, so that it is possible to give the pilot a sense of security.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, the notification to the pilot is performed by voice announcement, but it is also possible to perform notification only by sound such as an alarm.

The method described in each of the embodiments described above can be executed by a computer as a program such as a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM,
It is also possible to write the data on a recording medium such as a DVD or a semiconductor memory and apply it to various devices, or to transmit it via a communication medium and apply it to various devices. A computer that realizes the present apparatus reads the program recorded on the recording medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

In this way, it is possible to provide a recording medium on which a program to be executed by a computer is recorded. Note that the recording medium may be any medium that can record a computer program, such as a readable semiconductor storage device, a recording medium of a magnetic recording device, and a recording medium of a magneto-optical recording device. In particular,
It includes a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a phase change disk, a magnetic tape, and the like.

In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0036]

As described above in detail, the present invention relates to a navigation support apparatus for displaying a map around the current position of an aircraft on a display, and for setting a prescribed flight area relating to the operation of the aircraft, the setting area information is provided. With reference to the acquired flight area information acquisition means and the current position information of the aircraft, the image data indicating the defined flight area present in the display area on the display unit is obtained. The image processing apparatus further includes a specified region image data generating unit that is originally generated, and an image combining unit that combines the map data displayed on the display unit with the image data of the specified flight region and displays the combined data on the display unit.

Further, the present invention compares the acquired set area information of the specified flight area with the current position of the aircraft, and if the aircraft deviates from the specified flight area, notifies the pilot Is further provided with a departure warning notifying means for notifying the user.

Further, the present invention provides a method for returning the aircraft to the specified flight area based on the current position, heading, and speed of the aircraft when the aircraft deviates from the specified flight area. There is further provided a return route calculating means for calculating a return route and generating image data indicating the return route.

From these facts, it is possible to prevent the deviation from the prescribed flight area, thereby improving the safety.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a navigation support device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a processing unit 2 in the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a processing unit 4 in the configuration of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input part 2 ... Processing part 21 ... Map image generation means 22 ... Airspace / route image generation means 23 ... Departure warning notification means 24 ... Return route calculation means 3 ... Storage part 31 ... Map database 32 ... Airspace database 33 ... Route zone Database 4 Display unit 5 Speaker 6 Operation unit 7 Image synthesis unit 8 Voice conversion unit

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device for displaying a map around a current position of an aircraft on a display installed in a cockpit, wherein: flight area information for acquiring setting area information for a specified flight area related to the operation of the aircraft. Acquiring means, referring to the current position information of the aircraft, generating image data indicating a prescribed flight area present in a display area on the display based on the acquired prescribed area information of the prescribed flight area A specified area image data generating means, and an image synthesizing means for synthesizing the image data of the specified flight area with the map image displayed on the display and displaying the image data on the display. Support equipment. 2. The method further comprises comparing the acquired set area information of the prescribed flight area with a current position of the aircraft,
The navigation support device according to claim 1, further comprising: a deviation warning notifying unit that notifies a pilot when the aircraft deviates from the prescribed flight area. 3. The departure warning notifying means, when the aircraft does not deviate from the prescribed flight area, refers to a set area of the prescribed flight area, a current position, a heading and a speed of the aircraft. Determining whether there is a possibility of the aircraft deviating from the prescribed flight area, and, when determining that there is a possibility of departure, notifying the pilot to that effect. Navigation support device. 4. When the aircraft deviates from the prescribed flight area, the current position of the aircraft, the heading,
A return route calculating means for calculating a return route for the aircraft to return within the prescribed flight area based on the speed, and generating image data indicating the return route; and 4. The navigation according to claim 2, wherein image data of the return route is further combined with the map image displayed on the display in addition to the prescribed flight area and displayed on the display. Support equipment. 5. A storage device for storing a specified area database in which set area information is converted to a database for the specified flight area, wherein the flight area information obtaining means reads corresponding data from the specified area database. The navigation support device according to claim 1, wherein the setting region information of the prescribed flight region is acquired. 6. The navigation support device according to claim 5, wherein the specified area database can be updated by an external rewriting operation. 7. The navigation support device according to claim 1, wherein the flight area information acquiring means acquires the set area information of the prescribed flight area from outside via a wireless line. 8. A navigation assistance method for a navigation assistance device for displaying a map around a current position of an aircraft on a display installed in a cockpit, comprising: setting area information for a specified flight area related to the operation of the aircraft. A first step of acquiring, by referring to the current position information of the aircraft, image data indicating a prescribed flight area present in a display area on the display, the prescribed flight acquired in the first step A second step of generating based on the set area information of the area; and combining the map image displayed on the display with image data of the prescribed flight area generated in the second step. And a third step of displaying the information in a navigation support method. 9. The method further comprises comparing the acquired set area information of the prescribed flight area with a current position of the aircraft,
A fourth step of determining whether or not the aircraft has deviated from the prescribed flight area; and when it is determined that the aircraft deviates in the fourth step,
The navigation support method according to claim 8, further comprising: a fifth step of notifying the pilot of the fact. Further, when it is determined in the fourth step that the vehicle does not deviate, referring to the setting area of the prescribed flight area, the current position, the heading and the speed of the aircraft, A sixth step of determining whether or not there is a possibility of the aircraft deviating from the prescribed flight area, wherein the fifth step is performed when it is determined that there is a possibility of a deviation in the sixth step. 10. The navigation support method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of notifying the pilot to that effect. 11. A return for returning the aircraft to the specified flight area based on the current position, heading, and speed of the aircraft when the aircraft deviates from the specified flight area. A seventh step of calculating a route and generating image data indicating the return route, wherein the third step further includes adding the return to the map image displayed on the display in addition to the specified flight area. 11. The navigation support method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of combining route image data and displaying the combined image data on the display. 12. A navigation support program used in a navigation assistance device that displays a map around the current position of an aircraft on a display installed in a cockpit, wherein the navigation assistance program includes a specific flight area related to the operation of the aircraft. Procedure for acquiring setting area information, and referring to the current position information of the aircraft, image data indicating a prescribed flight area present in a display area on the display, setting area information of the acquired prescribed flight area A recording medium recording a navigation support program, comprising: a generating step based on the following; and a displaying step of combining image data of the prescribed flight area with a map image displayed on the display and displaying the data on the display. . 13. The navigation support program further includes:
Comparing the acquired set area information of the specified flight area with the current position of the aircraft to determine whether or not the aircraft deviates from the specified flight area; 13. The recording medium according to claim 12, further comprising: a deviation warning notification procedure for notifying a pilot when the determination is made. 14. The departure warning notification procedure refers to a setting area of the prescribed flight area, a current position, a heading and a speed of the aircraft when it is determined that the vehicle does not deviate by the departure determination procedure. A departure possibility determining step of determining whether there is a possibility of departure from the prescribed flight area of the aircraft. 14. The recording medium according to claim 13, wherein a procedure for notifying the pilot to that effect is also provided. 15. When the vehicle deviates in the departure determination procedure, the current position of the aircraft is determined.
A procedure for calculating a return route for the aircraft to return to the prescribed flight area based on the heading and speed, and a procedure for generating image data indicating the return route calculated by the procedure. Including, the display procedure, the map image displayed on the display device,
15. The recording medium according to claim 13, wherein image data of the return route is further combined with the prescribed flight area and displayed on the display.