JPH09507713A - Method and system for managing aircraft threat data - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A method of calculating mutual visibility data prior to use in order to enable real-time updating of threat information. Compute and store threat mutual visibility data corresponding to an area composed of a plurality of adjacent areas. The region of interest has a center in the adjacent region. As the location of the aircraft changes, the threat moves from the adjacent area to the area of interest. However, since the mutual visibility data is calculated when the threat first appears in the adjacent area, it can be used for other functions without further processing. Such other functions include providing interactive visibility data to threat avoidance algorithms or displaying onboard an aircraft.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING AIRCRAFT THREAT DATA Government Rights The U.S. Government has signed contract no. Has rights in this invention pursuant to F33600-88-G-5107. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to computer-aided systems for navigating aircraft, and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting and responding to unanticipated threats to aircraft. When planning routes for aircraft missions, take into account known threats such as enemy anti-aircraft fire and army bases. A selected route stored in an aircraft computer system includes a starting point, some intermediate points, and an ending point. The distance between each midpoint is measured in nautical miles and is called a leg. Therefore, the chosen route is the shortest route between the aircraft's starting point and its final mission destination (end point), with multiple interconnecting legs that bend around known threats to form the safest route. It will be composed of. The routes are chosen so that they are not in “mutual visibility”, ie the aircraft can be detected from the threat. However, route selection must take into account the threat issues that are unknown at that time and may “pop up” during the mission. When an unknown threat emerges, measures must be taken to avoid detection by new threats without defeating the mission's purpose. In the conventional method, mutual visibility related to all known threats is calculated in advance and stored in the disk memory. The data is then embedded in the terrain data segment for display on a display device in the aircraft as part of the map. This data is also used for threat avoidance, but the data must be read into the threat avoidance procedure when it is performed. Overall, this method is slow and lacks flexibility. A new disk must be created for each mission, and the mutual visibility of threats must be established in advance. The mutual visibility data relating to the unknown threat that pops up must be calculated and stored for the entire mission, and the number that can be processed during a given mission is limited. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide the ability to handle multiple threats for functions such as display and threat avoidance. Another object of the present invention is to allow real-time updating of the display by pre-calculating and storing threat interactive visibility data. Yet another object of the present invention is to pre-calculate and store the previous threat's mutual visibility data so that the route change can be established immediately when the new unknown threat's mutual visibility data is calculated. To improve the threat avoidance function. This makes it possible to more quickly respond to an unknown threat at a close range. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a method and system for managing aircraft threat data for threat avoidance against airborne aircraft. More particularly, the method of the present invention stores in computer memory a number of data segments that represent a plurality of adjacent regions of an area whose location changes as the aircraft moves from one location to another. Including that. Next, it is determined from the segment which known threats and which unknown areas are included in the adjacent areas forming the area. The mutual visibility data relating to the threat determined to be in the area is calculated and stored. The method may further include defining a local region of interest having a center within the adjacent region. If the threat moves from one adjacent area into the area of interest, it provides threat mutual visibility data for some functions. Those other functions may include displaying the local region of interest including the threat's mutual visibility data. Along with this method are systems that manage aircraft threat data. The system has a means to store the data segment in the computer memory, a means to determine which known threats and unknown threats are contained in the area from the segment, and threat mutual visibility concerning the threats in the area. Means for calculating and storing data. The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention as well as other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the area for which data is calculated according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a structural chart of a system for managing aircraft threat data according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a threat management process according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an area 8 that an aircraft 10 on a mission must pass through when flying along its flight plan 12. In the figure, several threats T1 to T3 such as anti-aircraft gun rows and radar installation locations are shown. Each threat has a mutual visibility area that corresponds to the area in which the threat would detect aircraft 10 if the aircraft entered. Depending on the case, the mutual visibility area, which is generally circular, may be limited by obstacles such as mountain ranges and fixed arrangements, as in the case of threat T3. In the present invention, area 8 is represented in the aircraft's computer memory as a plurality of (in the preferred embodiment, nine) data segments representing a plurality of adjacent areas 14 of area 8. Each data segment represents a 100 square mile area in the preferred embodiment, although other sized areas could be used if desired. The data in a data segment includes data about the terrain of the area, threats known to exist within the area, and recently detected unknown threats. At the center of the area 10 is a region of interest 16. Area 16 will be provided later for other functions, such as display on an aircraft display, or for use in avoiding threats entering or moving within area 16. Is an area for supplying the data to be processed. One such threat avoidance process is found in co-pending US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 182,892, filed January 18, 1994, entitled "THREAT AVOID- AANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AIRCRAFT". Described, which is also incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 2 is a structural chart of a system 20 for managing aircraft threat data in accordance with the present invention. At its core, the system 20 includes a threat management process 22, described below, which communicates with several modules. The known threat module 24 supplies parameter data relating to known threats to the process 22 in each area 14. The unknown threat module 26 identifies to the process 22 threats that are unknown in advance and establishes their location. Process 22 communicates known and unknown threat data to interactive visibility engine 28. The mutual visibility engine then calculates the mutual visibility data for the new threat and transfers the data to cache memory 30 via process 22. Terrain data module 29 communicates other data about region 16, such as the nature of the terrain, to process 22. Which data is communicated to process 22 depends on which area is adjacent to the aircraft on the flight plan. These areas are defined by navigational instruments on board the aircraft. It goes without saying that other modules may be included. Also, the modular data may be rearranged in an equivalent manner using other modules. Process 22 packages the appropriate data into data segments representing contiguous areas 14 and communicates those data segments to cache memory 30. There, cache memory 30 makes the data available for threat avoidance process 32, display process 34 and possibly other functions 36. For clarity, the well known data processing steps for fetching data from cache memory 30 and supplying that data to function 32, 34 or 36 have been omitted from the figure. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the steps of a preferred embodiment of process 22 for managing aircraft threat data for threat avoidance. First, the terrain data is extracted for each adjacent region in the area around the point of interest (40). The retrieved data is stored in the cache memory 30 of the computer as a data segment (42). Next, the spatial extent of each data segment is examined (44) to determine if the space represented by each data segment contains a threat. If the data segment does not contain a threat, the aircraft is moving from one location to another and an inspection is performed to see if the area around the point of interest has changed (46). If the area has changed, additional data segments are retrieved. If not, the process awaits change. If the data segment contains a threat, the threat is inspected (50) to see if it is a known threat. Retrieve data for known threats (52). If the threat is unknown, its nature is first determined and then stored as a threat known at that time for future reference (54). In either case, the threat mutual visibility is then calculated and stored in the cache memory 30 (56). The threat is then inspected (58) to see if it entered the region of interest 16. If not, the process again checks for location changes and waits for changes (46). If it is determined that the threat has entered the region of interest 16, then the threat interactive visibility data is provided to other functions (60). Those other functions include threat avoidance 32, displaying local regions of interest containing interactive visibility data, and possibly other functions 36. The present invention offers several advantages over the prior art. Thereby, the mutual visibility data is calculated in advance before being displayed in the region of interest (when the threat first enters the adjacent region), so that the display of the mutual visibility of the aircraft can be updated in real time. The invention also improves the threat avoidance function. If an unknown threat suddenly appears in the region of interest, the threat's cross visibility data is pre-computed and can be used to immediately re-plan the mission. In order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information necessary to apply the novel principles and to configure and use such specialized components as required, the invention is Described in considerable detail. However, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described and illustrated above, the invention being able to be practiced by means of devices and devices which differ in certain respects, and with respect to both the details of the devices and the operating procedures. It should be understood that various modifications can be realized without departing from the scope of itself. Having illustrated and described the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. For example, the features of the present invention may be implemented in hardware or software. Therefore, the illustrated embodiments should be considered merely as preferred examples of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the claims. Therefore, as the present invention, all modifications and equivalents to the illustrated embodiments included in the scope of the following claims are claimed.

[Procedure Amendment] Patent Law Article 184-8 [Submission date] January 23, 1996 [Amendment content] Amendment specification Method and system for managing aircraft threat data Government rights United States Government has been approved by the Ministry of Air Force. Contract No. Has rights in this invention pursuant to F33600-88-G-5107. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to computer-aided systems for navigating aircraft, and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting and responding to unanticipated threats to aircraft. When planning routes for aircraft missions, take into account known threats such as enemy anti-aircraft fire and army bases. A selected route stored in an aircraft computer system includes a starting point, some intermediate points, and an ending point. The distance between each midpoint is measured in nautical miles and is called a leg. Therefore, the chosen route is the shortest route between the aircraft's starting point and its final mission destination (end point), with multiple interconnecting legs that bend around known threats to form the safest route. It will be composed of. The routes are chosen so that they are not in "mutual visibility", i.e. the aircraft cannot be detected from the threat. However, route selection must take into account the threat issues that are unknown at that time and may “pop up” during the mission. When an unknown threat emerges, measures must be taken to avoid detection by new threats without defeating the mission's purpose. In the conventional method, mutual visibility related to all known threats is calculated in advance and stored in the disk memory. The data is then embedded in the terrain data segment for display on a display device in the aircraft as part of the map. This data is also used for threat avoidance, but the data must be read into the threat avoidance procedure when it is performed. Overall, this method is slow and lacks flexibility. A new disk must be created for each mission, and the mutual visibility of threats must be established in advance. Mutual visibility data relating to an unknown threat that suddenly appears must be calculated and stored for the entire mission, which limits the number that can be processed during a given mission. Some related prior art references are IEEE 1984 National Aerospace and Electronic Conference, vol. 2 in Disanayake and Perras Jr. "Real-Time Management of Strategic Penetrator Missions", published May 21-25, 1984, which provides threat evasion information, taking into account known and unknown threats. A mission management system is disclosed. The mission management system analyzes the micro-sections of the terrain database and suggests alternative flight paths for the aircraft to avoid detection for that area. Another reference is Society for Optical Engineers (SPIE), vol. The paper "Real-Time Intervals Calculations for Ground-Based Radar Systems" by Libby, Love, and Chou in 1995 (published from April 12 to 14, 1993), which is unknown to ground-based radars. , I.e., a means for increasing the speed at which mutual visibility calculations are performed for "pop-up" threats. When a threat is identified, it produces a radar extension that extends out. The selected set of lines is then examined for intersections with a subset of the terrain elements. The last reference is IEEE 1984 National Aerospace and Electronic Conference, vol. Kupferer and Halski's article "Tactical Flyt Management-Survivable Penetration" (published May 21-25, 1984) in No. 1 and discloses a system that employs a terrain database to improve the survival rate of aircraft. are doing. A portion of the terrain database is used to perform analysis of aircraft viability based on known and unknown threats. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide the ability to handle multiple threats for functions such as display and threat avoidance. Another object of the present invention is to allow real-time updating of the display by pre-calculating and storing threat interactive visibility data. Yet another object of the present invention is to pre-calculate and store the previous threat's mutual visibility data so that the route change can be established immediately when the new unknown threat's mutual visibility data is calculated. To improve the threat avoidance function. This makes it possible to more quickly respond to an unknown threat at a close range. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a method and system for managing aircraft threat data for threat avoidance against airborne aircraft. More particularly, the method of the present invention stores in computer memory a number of data segments that represent a plurality of adjacent regions of an area whose location changes as the aircraft moves from one location to another. Including that. Next, it is determined from the segment which known threats and which unknown areas are included in the adjacent areas forming the area. The mutual visibility data relating to the threat determined to be in the area is calculated and stored. It may further include establishing a local region of interest having a center in the adjacent region. If the threat moves from one adjacent area into the area of interest, it provides threat mutual visibility data for some functions. Those other functions may include displaying the local region of interest including the threat's mutual visibility data. Along with this method are systems that manage aircraft threat data. The system has a means to store the data segment in the computer memory, a means to determine which known threats and unknown threats are contained in the area from the segment, and threat mutual visibility concerning the threats in the area. Means for calculating and storing data. The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention as well as other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the area for which data is calculated according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a structural chart of a system for managing aircraft threat data according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a threat management process according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an area 8 that an aircraft 10 on a mission must pass through when flying along its flight plan 12. In the figure, several threats T1 to T3 such as anti-aircraft gun rows and radar installation locations are shown. Each threat has a mutual visibility area that corresponds to the area in which the threat would detect aircraft 10 if the aircraft entered. In some cases, the generally circular mutual visibility area may be limited by obstacles such as mountain ranges, fixed arrangements, as in the case of threat T3. In the present invention, area 8 is represented in the aircraft's computer memory as a plurality of (in the preferred embodiment, nine) data segments representing a plurality of adjacent areas 14 of area 8. Each data segment represents an area of 185.2 square kilometers in the preferred embodiment, although other sized areas could be used if desired. The data in a data segment includes data about the terrain of the area, threats known to exist within the area, and recently detected unknown threats. At the center of the area 10 is a region of interest 16. Area 16 is provided later for use in other functions, such as display on an aircraft display, or for use in avoiding threats entering or moving within area 16. It is an area for supplying data. One such threat avoidance process is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 182,892, filed on January 18, 1994, under the name "THR EAT AVOID-AENCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AIRCRAFT". , Which is incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 2 is a structural chart of a system 20 for managing aircraft threat data in accordance with the present invention. At its core, the system 20 includes a threat management process 22, described below, which communicates with several modules. The known threat module 24 supplies parameter data relating to known threats to the process 22 in each area 14. The unknown threat module 26 identifies to the process 22 threats that are unknown in advance and establishes their location. Process 22 communicates known and unknown threat data to interactive visibility engine 28. The mutual visibility engine then calculates the mutual visibility data for the new threat and transfers the data to cache memory 30 via process 22. Terrain data module 29 communicates other data about region 16, such as the nature of the terrain, to process 22. Which data is communicated to process 22 depends on which area is adjacent to the aircraft on the flight plan. These areas are defined by navigational instruments on board the aircraft. It goes without saying that other modules may be included. Also, the modular data may be rearranged in an equivalent manner using other modules. Process 22 packages the appropriate data into data segments representing contiguous regions 14 and passes those data segments to cache memory 30. The cache memory 30 then makes the data available to the threat avoidance process 32, the display process 34 and possibly other functions 36. For clarity, the well known data processing steps for fetching data from cache memory 30 and providing that data to function 32, 34 or 36 have been omitted from the figure. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the steps of a preferred embodiment of process 22 for managing aircraft threat data for threat avoidance. First, the terrain data is extracted for each adjacent region in the area around the point of interest (40). The retrieved data is stored in the cache memory 30 of the computer as a data segment (42). Next, the spatial extent of each data segment is examined (44) to determine if the space represented by each data segment contains a threat. If the data segment does not contain a threat, the aircraft is moving from one location to another and an inspection is performed to see if the area around the point of interest has changed (46). If the area has changed, additional data segments are retrieved. If not, the process awaits change. If the data segment contains a threat, the threat is inspected (50) to see if it is a known threat. Retrieve data for known threats (52). If the threat is unknown, its nature is first determined and then stored as a threat known at that time for future reference (54). In either case, the threat mutual visibility is then calculated and stored in the cache memory 30 (56). The threat is then inspected (58) to see if it entered the region of interest 16. If not, the process again checks for location changes and waits for changes (46). If it is determined that the threat has entered the region of interest 16, then the threat interactive visibility data is provided to other functions (60). Those other functions include threat avoidance 32, displaying local regions of interest containing interactive visibility data, and possibly other functions 36. The present invention offers several advantages over the prior art. Thereby, the mutual visibility data is calculated in advance before being displayed in the region of interest (when the threat first enters the adjacent region), so that the display of the mutual visibility of the aircraft can be updated in real time. The invention also improves the threat avoidance function. If an unknown threat suddenly appears in the region of interest, the threat's cross visibility data is pre-computed and can be used to immediately re-plan the mission. In order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information necessary to apply the novel principles and to configure and use such specialized components as required, the invention is Described in considerable detail. However, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described and illustrated above, the invention being able to be practiced by means of devices and devices which differ in certain respects, and with respect to both the details of the devices and the operating procedures. It should be understood that various modifications can be realized without departing from the scope of itself. Having illustrated and described the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. For example, the features of the present invention may be implemented in hardware or software. Amended Claims 1. In a computerized method of managing aircraft threat data for threat avoidance to an aircraft, some data representing a plurality of adjacent regions of a changing location as the aircraft moves from one location to another The process of storing the segment in the computer memory (29), the process of determining which known threats and which unknown threats are contained in the adjacent regions forming the area from the segment, and the process of being detected by the threat Calculating and storing threat mutual visibility data representing the likelihood for threats in adjacent regions. 2. The process of establishing a local region of interest centered within a contiguous region of an area, and each time a threat moves from one contiguous region into the region of interest, the threat mutual visibility data for the threat in the contiguous region is The method of claim 1 including the step of supplying the function. 3. Other functions include displaying the local region of interest on the aircraft display (34), including the mutual visibility data, and updating the display of the mutual visibility data (34) as the threat moves into the region of interest. The method of claim 2, including: 4. The method of claim 2, wherein another function comprises invoking a threat avoidance process when a threat moves from an adjacent area into an area of interest. 5. As the location of an area changes, the process of reading new data segments into memory that represent new adjacent areas of the new area, each representing a spatial extent, and the spatial extent of each data segment The process of determining which known threats and unknown threats newly invaded in the adjacent areas of different areas, and the process of calculating and storing the threat mutual visibility data regarding the new threats in the adjacent areas. The method of claim 1 including. 6. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In computerized systems that manage aircraft threat data for threat avoidance to airborne aircraft, a number of contiguous regions of an area that change position as the aircraft moves from one location to another are represented. Means (29) for storing the data segment in the computer memory, means (22) for determining which known threat and unknown threat are included in the adjacent area from the segment, and threat in the adjacent area With respect to, a means (28) for calculating and storing threat mutual visibility data representing the likelihood of being detected by the threat. 7. Means (22) for determining a local region of interest centered within a contiguous region of the area and remembered for the threat in the contiguous region as the threat moves from one contiguous region into the region of interest 7. A system according to claim 6, comprising means (30) for supplying the threat mutual visibility data to another function. 8. Means (34) for displaying the local region of interest on the display device of the aircraft, including the mutual visibility data, and means (22) for updating the display of the mutual visibility data as the threat moves from the adjacent region into the region of interest. The system of claim 7, including: 9. The system of claim 7, including means for invoking a threat avoidance process when a threat moves from an adjacent area into an area of interest. 10. Means (22) for storing in memory a new data segment representing a contiguous region of the new area as the location of the area changes, and a new known threat from the new segment to the contiguous region of the new area, A means (22) for determining which unknown threat has invaded, and means (28) for calculating and storing threat mutual visibility data relating to a new threat in a neighboring area of the new area. 6. The system according to 6. FIG.

Claims (1)

[Claims]   1. Compile to manage aircraft threat data to avoid threats to airborne aircraft. In the computerization method,   Eli the location changes as the aircraft moves from one location to another Cache a few data segments that represent multiple adjacent areas of The process of remembering   From the segment, which known threats in the adjacent areas that make up the area, The process of determining which unknown threats are in   Process of calculating and storing threat mutual visibility data for threats in adjacent areas A method consisting of and.   2. Establishing a local region of interest having a center in the adjacent region;   Each time a threat moves from an adjacent area into an area of interest Supplying pre-calculated threat mutual visibility data to other functions. The method described in 1.   3. Other features are   Displaying the local region of interest on the aircraft display, including the mutual visibility data; ,   Updating the display of interactive visibility data as the threat moves into the region of interest The method of claim 2 including.   4. Another feature is threat avoidance when a threat moves from an adjacent area into an area of interest. The method of claim 2 including invoking a process.   5. As the location of an area changes, it represents a new area, each of which is a space. The process of reading a new data segment representing the physical spread into memory,   Due to the spatial extent of the new segment, new known threats and The process of determining whether an unknown threat of   Computation and storage of threat mutual visibility for new threats in adjacent areas The method of claim 1, comprising:   6. Compile to manage aircraft threat data to avoid threats to airborne aircraft. In the computerized system,   Eli the location changes as the aircraft moves from one location to another Computer data from several data segments that represent A means to store in Mori,   From the segment, which known threats and which unknown threats are included in the adjacent area To determine whether or not   Means for calculating and storing threat mutual visibility data for threats in adjacent areas A system comprising:   7. Means for establishing a local region of interest having a center in the adjacent region;   Each time a threat moves from an adjacent area into an area of interest A means of supplying pre-calculated, stored threat cross-visibility data to other functions. 7. The system of claim 6, including a step.   8. A procedure for displaying the local region of interest on the aircraft display, including the mutual visibility data. Steps and   Display of mutual visibility data as the threat moves from the adjacent area into the area of interest. 8. The system of claim 7, including means for updating.   9. Call the threat avoidance process when a threat moves from an adjacent area into an area of interest. The system of claim 7 including means for popping.   10. As the location of the area changes, new data segments representing adjacent areas To store the memory in the memory,   From the new segment, which known threats and which unknown threats are newly added to the adjacent area Means to determine if it has entered,   Calculate and store aircraft mutual visibility data for new threats in adjacent areas. 7. The system of claim 6 including means for causing.   11. A computer that manages aircraft threat data to avoid threats to airborne aircraft. In the computerization method,   Eli the location changes as the aircraft moves from one location to another Storing several data segments representing multiple adjacent areas of When,   Establishing a local region of interest having a center in the adjacent region;   From the segment, which known threats and which unknown threats are included in the adjacent area The process of determining whether   Calculating and storing threat mutual visibility data for threats in the region;   Each time a threat moves from an adjacent area into an area of interest Overloading other functions with pre-computed, stored threat cross-visibility data Process.