JP2001266297A - Alarm system and method for detecting approach to dangerous area for navigation object - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically detect the approach of a navigation object such as an airplane to a dangerous area written on a digital map. SOLUTION: The dangerous area inputted by an inputting part 14 is written and set on the digital map displayed by a displaying part 13 on the basis of a self-machine location calculated by a navigation calculating part 11 and a map database 12. A controlling part 15 automatically detects the approach of the self-airplane to the dangerous area by monitoring the distance between the dangerous area and the position of the self-airplane and outputs an approach detection signal. An alarming part 16 emits an alarm in response to the approach detection signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a warning system using a digital map, and more particularly to a warning system and a warning system for automatically warning of approach of an aircraft or the like to a dangerous area written on the digital map. And a method for detecting approach to a dangerous area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a pilot during a flight writes necessary information on a paper map indicating a flight route as needed, and uses the paper map on which the information is written to perform a safe and accurate flight. I have to.

[0003] For example, the weather on the sea route (rain cloud and air current conditions, etc.) is explained by a dispatcher (operation manager) during a briefing before a flight, but the status changes every moment. The pilot in flight would then receive (directly or indirectly) new information from other aircraft flying in front of nearby routes and radars on the ground,
The pilots themselves write down the information on a paper map and confirm the weather on the route.

[0004]

As described above, in the prior art, a pilot in flight has successively written down information such as weather on a sea route on a paper map indicating a flight route, and used the information on the paper map as a pilot. He checked himself to ensure flight safety.

On the other hand, in recent years, the digitization of maps such as digital maps has improved the visibility in the field of aircraft as well as the use of paperless maps. However, there has been no conventional function of writing information such as weather on a paper map, which is conventionally performed on a digital map.

For this reason, conventionally, even if a digital map is used, it is necessary to write information such as weather on a paper map and confirm the information sequentially by the pilot himself in order to ensure flight safety as in the past. Was.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object the configuration in which a danger area can be set on a digital map, and the approach of an aircraft or other such vehicle to the danger area is automatically detected. An object of the present invention is to provide an alarm system and a method capable of issuing an alarm.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an alarm system which is used by being mounted on a navigation body. The display means displays a current position of the navigation body (self-navigation body) on a digital map. Dangerous area setting means for setting a dangerous area on a digital map displayed by the means, approach detecting means for detecting the approach of the self-propelled vehicle to the dangerous area set on the digital map, and the approach detecting means Alarm means for issuing an alarm in response to the approach detection.

In the alarm system having such a configuration, a danger area is set on a digital map in the same manner as for a paper map (for example, a pilot draws a danger area using input means such as a pointing device). Or automatically draw the dangerous area based on information on the dangerous area given from the outside), it is possible to automatically detect (determine) whether the self-propelled vehicle is approaching the dangerous area, and issue an alarm. It is possible to emit.

Here, in the approach detection by the approach detecting means, the distance between the dangerous area set on the digital map and the current position of the self-propelled vehicle is monitored, and based on the monitoring result, the self-propelled vehicle detects the dangerous area. It is advisable to apply a method of determining whether or not the vehicle has approached. Further, the coordinate information of the dangerous area set on the digital map may be used for the distance monitor.

In addition to the above, the dangerous area setting means has a dangerous area type setting means for setting information indicating the type of the dangerous area in association with the dangerous area set on the digital map. If an alarm corresponding to the type of the danger area where the approach of the body is detected is issued by the above-mentioned alarm means, a more effective alarm output matching a dangerous situation can be provided. Further, in such a configuration, it is possible to drive an existing alarm unit related to the type of the dangerous area in conjunction with the output of the alarm corresponding to the type of the dangerous area.

The present invention according to the above-mentioned apparatus (alarm system) is also realized as an invention relating to an approach detection method for detecting approach of a navigation body to a dangerous area.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the alarm system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The alarm system shown in FIG. 1 is used, for example, by being mounted on an aircraft, and stores a navigation calculation unit 11 for repeatedly measuring its own position, for example, at a constant period, and digitized map data. Map database 12
And a display unit 13 for displaying a map around the own location based on the map data stored in the map database 12 or a map on the flight route. The display unit 13 displays the position of the aircraft itself, and also the danger area on the navigation route. The dangerous area in the present embodiment refers to an area with bad weather conditions, such as a place where airflow is unstable or a place where thunderclouds are generated. However, in addition to the weather conditions, any area that is in a dangerous state for the flight of the aircraft can be set as the dangerous area.

The alarm system shown in FIG. 1 also includes an input unit 14 having, for example, a pointing device for inputting and setting a danger area on a route on a map (digital map) displayed on the display unit 13. A control unit 15 for automatically detecting the approach of the own machine to the dangerous area by monitoring the distance between the own machine and the dangerous area and outputting an approach detection signal, and an approach from the control unit 15 An alarm unit 16 is provided for alarming the occupant of approaching the dangerous area based on the detection signal.

Next, the operation of the alarm system having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The control unit 15 displays a map (digital map) near the position of the own device on the display unit 13 based on the own position calculated by the navigation calculation unit 11 and the map database 12.

When the pilot receives information on a dangerous area from another aircraft flying ahead of a route near the own aircraft or a radar on the ground, the pilot inputs a danger area, for example, a pointing device having the input unit 14. To write (draw) on the digital map displayed on the display unit 13. Thereby, the danger area 21 written by the pilot is displayed on the digital map of the display unit 13, as shown in FIG. In addition, a symbol (own device position symbol) 22 indicating the own device position is also displayed on the digital map.

Danger area 21 on the digital map
Is actually written in a corresponding area on a display memory (not shown) storing a display image (here, a digital map) displayed on the display unit 13. Here, a three-dimensional dangerous area can be set by drawing the altitude or altitude range of the dangerous area using, for example, a pointing device or the like after key input.

The own position symbol 22 on the digital map moves with the movement of the body. In the movement of the own-device position symbol 22, the control unit 15 acquires the latest information on the own-device position obtained by the navigation calculation unit 11 at a constant cycle, and updates the writing position of the own-device position symbol 22 each time. This is achieved by: It should be noted that the digital map may be scrolled based on the own device position instead of moving the own device position symbol 22, or both may be used in combination.

The control section 15 constantly (at a constant cycle) monitors the distance between the position of the apparatus itself and the dangerous area written on the digital map. If the own machine approaches the dangerous area, an approach detection signal to that effect is output to the alarm unit 16. Then, the alarm unit 16 issues an alarm (indicating the approach to the dangerous area) by using the approach detection signal from the control unit 15 as a trigger, and calls attention to the pilot (occupant).

Here, if information indicating the type of dangerous area is added (associated) to the information (of the coordinate series) of the dangerous area written on the digital map, the information suitable for the type of dangerous area (specific It is also possible to issue an alarm. In this case, the control unit 15 determines the type of the dangerous area, and outputs an approach detection signal unique to the type of the dangerous area to the alarm unit 16, or the control unit 15 notifies the alarm unit 16 of the type of the dangerous area. A configuration in which a common approach detection signal is output irrespective and the type of dangerous area is determined on the alarm unit 16 side is applicable. However, in terms of effectively using the function of the control unit 15, it is better to apply the former configuration.

In a configuration in which a danger area type is determined and a corresponding alarm is issued, for example, in a passenger aircraft, when this alarm indicates an approach to an area with poor airflow, a signal of this alarm is sent to the control unit 15 for example. Control can be linked to the "lighting of the sign urging the user to fasten the seatbelt" of the customer seat.

Next, an example of a procedure for automatically detecting the approach of the own machine to the dangerous area by the control unit 15 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 3 and an approach detection explanatory diagram of FIG.

First, the control unit 15 executes (own position symbol 2).
A reference distance d for determining that the own device has approached the dangerous area 21 (at the position indicated by 2) is set (step S1). The reference distance d may be input from the input unit 14 by a pilot, or a fixed value (default value) predetermined by the system may be used.

The control unit 15 also determines the coordinates P (x
p, yp) are set (step S2). The coordinates P (x
(p, yp) are sequentially updated to the latest one based on the own-vehicle position information obtained by the navigation calculation unit 11 at regular intervals.

Next, the control unit 15 calculates, for example, the coordinates A1 (x1, y1) to An (x) of the n points from the coordinate series of the dangerous area 21.
n, yn) at the interval determined by the total number of coordinate points m and the number of samplings n of the coordinate series.
(Xi, yi) (i = 1, 2, 3,... N), and i =
1 and the i (= 1) th coordinate Ai (xi, y
i) is extracted (steps S3 and S4).

Next, the control unit 15 determines the coordinates P (x
p, yp) and the ith coordinate Ai (xi, xi,
Since the yi), it calculates the distance (AP) following equation i (AP) i = {( xp-xi) 2 + (yp-yi) 2} 1/2 between the two coordinates (step S5).

Next, the control unit 15 calculates the calculated distance (AP) i
(I = 1) is temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) (step S6). Then, the control unit 15 increments i by 1 (step S7), and determines whether or not all distances (AP) i have been obtained based on whether or not the incremented i exceeds n (step S7). S8). If i after increment is i ≦ n, the control unit 15
It is determined that the distance (AP) i that has not yet been obtained is left, and the i-th coordinate Ai (xi, yi) is extracted using the incremented i (step S4).

When the above operation is repeated and the processing of i = n is completed, that is, the coordinates P (xp, yp) of the own position and the i (= n) th coordinate Ai (xi, yi) of the dangerous area 21 are set. =
When the distance (AP) i = (AP) n from An (xn, yn) has been obtained in the memory, the value of i becomes n + 1 by the increment operation in the next step S7.

When the value of i exceeds n as a result of the increment operation in step S7 (step S8), the control unit 15 determines all distances (AP) i (i = 1, 2, 2).
,... N) are determined to have been obtained, and the minimum value of all the distances (AP) i temporarily stored in the memory, that is, the shortest distance mi from the own position to the dangerous area is determined.
n. (AP) is obtained (step S9).

Then, the control unit 15 determines the distance min.
(AP) is compared with the previously set reference distance d (step S10). If the condition of (AP) <d is satisfied, it is determined that the own aircraft has approached the dangerous area 21 from the reference distance d set in step S1, and an approach detection signal is output to the alarm unit 16. (Step S11). Thereby, the alarm unit 16 issues a predetermined alarm.

In the embodiment described above, the danger area is described as being written (drawn) by the pilot operating the input unit 14 (pointing device), but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the input unit 14
While an input unit having a wireless communication interface function is used, coordinate system information of a dangerous area is appropriately transmitted from an operating center (of an airline company) or a predetermined communication satellite. It is also possible that the data is received by the wireless communication interface of the input unit and is automatically written on the digital map displayed on the display unit 13 by the control unit 15. In this case, a dangerous area type may be added to the coordinate series information. In addition, it is also possible to mount a weather radar on an aircraft, analyze weather information observed by the radar, specify a dangerous area, and input coordinate series information of the dangerous area.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an alarm system mounted on an aircraft has been described. However, the present invention is similarly applied to an alarm system mounted on a navigation body other than an aircraft such as a ship. Applicable.

[0034]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, by simply setting a dangerous area on a digital map, it is automatically detected (determined) whether or not the own vehicle is approaching the dangerous area. ) To generate an alarm, so that the burden on the pilot (occupant) can be reduced and the safety of navigation can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an alarm system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing a display example in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a procedure of an automatic detection process of approach to a dangerous area in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining conditions for the approach detection.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 navigation calculation unit 12 map database 13 display unit 14 input unit (danger area setting means, danger area type setting means) 15 control unit (approach detection means, monitor means, discrimination means,
Interlocking means) 16 Alarm section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An alarm system used by being mounted on a navigation body, a display means for displaying a current position of the navigation body on a digital map, and a danger area set on the digital map displayed by the display means. Danger area setting means to perform, approach detection means for detecting approach of the navigation body to the danger area set on the digital map, and alarm means for issuing an alarm in response to the approach detection by the approach detection means An alarm system characterized by: 2. An approach detecting means for monitoring a distance between a danger area set on the digital map and a current position of the navigation body, and the navigation body based on a monitoring result by the monitoring means. 2. A warning system according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the vehicle approaches the dangerous area. 3. The danger area setting means includes danger area type setting means for setting information indicating the type of the danger area in association with the danger area set on the digital map. 2. The alarm system according to claim 1, wherein an alarm corresponding to the type of the dangerous area in which the approach of the navigation object is detected is issued. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: an interlocking unit that drives an existing alarm unit related to the type of the dangerous area in conjunction with an output of an alarm corresponding to the type of the dangerous area. Alarm system. 5. An approach detecting method for detecting approach of a navigation object to a dangerous area, comprising: setting a dangerous area on a digital map on which a current position of the navigation object is displayed; and setting the dangerous area on the digital map. Monitoring the distance between the danger area and the current position of the navigation body, and detecting the approach of the navigation body to the danger area; and alerting when the navigation body detects the approach to the danger area. Issuing an approach.