Method and system for using database and gps data to linearize vor and ils navigation data

Abstract

A method and system for determining a deviation of a vehicle from a desired course are described. The method includes receiving bearing signals from a transmitter, accessing a database, on the vehicle, to obtain transmitter position information identifying a position of the transmitter, obtaining vehicle position information using GPS identifying a current position of the vehicle, and determining a deviation of the vehicle from the desired course utilizing the transmitter position information, the vehicle position information, and the bearing signal.

1 . A flight control system comprising: 
 a database stored on a vehicle; and    a flight director accessing said database and determining pitch and roll commands for the vehicle based at least partially on the data from said database.    
     
     
         2 . The flight control system according to  claim 1  wherein said database comprises data relating to position information of at least one of a VOR transmitter, a localizer transmitter, a runway length and a glide path angle associated with the glide slope transmitter, and an elevation of the runway.  
     
     
         3 . The flight control system according to  claim 1  wherein said flight director determines a linear VOR deviation of the vehicle from a desired path based on VOR transmitter position information stored in said database that identifies latitude and longitude for a VOR transmitter.  
     
     
         4 . The flight control system according to  claim 1  wherein said flight director determines a lateral deviation of the vehicle from a desired approach to a runway based on transmitter position information stored in said database that identifies a latitude and a longitude of a localizer transmitter.  
     
     
         5 . The flight control system according to  claim 1  wherein said flight director determines an altitude deviation of the vehicle from a desired altitude approach to a runway based on transmitter position information stored in said database that identifies a latitude, a longitude, and an elevation of a glide slope transmitter.  
     
     
         6 . The flight control system according to  claim 1  wherein said flight director determines an altitude deviation of the vehicle from a desired altitude approach to a runway based on transmitter position information stored in said database that identifies a latitude, a longitude, a length of the runway and an elevation of a localizer transmitter.  
     
     
         7 . The flight control system according to  claim 1  wherein said flight director identifies when the vehicle is in a cone of confusion extending from a VOR transmitter based on the transmitter position information stored in said database.  
     
     
         8 . The flight control system according to  claim 1  wherein said flight director: 
 identifies when the vehicle is in a cone of confusion extending from a VOR transmitter based on the transmitter position information;    initiates roll commands utilizing deviations from a desired course when the vehicle is not within the cone of confusion extending from the transmitter; and    initiates roll commands based on a previous heading when the vehicle is within the cone of confusion.    
     
     
         9 . The flight control system according to  claim 1  wherein pitch and roll commands initiating from said flight director are calculated utilizing a linear deviation from a selected course, the linear deviation based on one or more of the data within said database, an angular deviation received by said flight director, GPS data received by said flight director, and an altitude received by said flight director.  
     
     
         10 . The flight control system according to  claim 1  wherein said flight director comprises multiple processors that perform simultaneous processing.  
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling flight of a vehicle comprising: 
 storing a database on the vehicle;    accessing the database; and    determining pitch and roll commands for the vehicle based at least partially on the data accessed in the database.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said storing step comprises storing data relating to position information of at least one of a VOR transmitter, an instrument landing system (ILS) transmitter, a runway length associated with the ILS transmitter, and an elevation of the runway.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said determining step comprises determining a linear VOR deviation of the vehicle from a desired path based on VOR transmitter position information stored in the database that identifies latitude and longitude for a VOR transmitter.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said determining step comprises determining a lateral deviation of the vehicle from a desired approach to a runway based on transmitter position information stored in the database that identifies a latitude and a longitude of a localizer transmitter.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said determining step comprises determining an altitude deviation of the vehicle from a desired altitude approach to a runway based on transmitter position information stored in the database that identifies a latitude, a longitude, and an elevation of a glide slope transmitter.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said determining step comprise determining an altitude deviation of the vehicle from a desired altitude approach to a runway based on transmitter position information stored in the database that identifies a latitude, a longitude, a length of the runway and an elevation of a localizer transmitter.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said determining step comprises determining when the vehicle is in a cone of confusion extending from a VOR transmitter based on the transmitter position information stored in said database.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said determining step comprises calculating a linear deviation from a selected course based on one or more of the data within the database, a received angular deviation, received GPS data, and a received altitude.