Autonomous distressed aircraft tracking system

Abstract

The invention is an autonomous anomaly response unit comprising: a signal coupler in communication with a selected avionics sensor in the aircraft avionics system, the signal coupler functioning to acquire from the selected avionics sensor a monitored sensor signal configured in a first signal format; a signal processor for receiving the monitored sensor signal and cross-formatting the monitored sensor signal into a selected sensor reading configured in a second signal format; a parameter check for evaluating the selected sensor reading such that a monitor trigger signal is issued in response to detection of an anomaly in the selected sensor reading; and a response module configured to issue an emergency response alarm in response to receiving the monitor trigger signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous anomaly response unit suitable for monitoring an aircraft avionics system and initiating an emergency response if the aircraft operational state escalates to a distressed stage, said anomaly response unit comprising:
 a signal coupler in communication with a selected avionics sensor in the aircraft avionics system, said signal coupler functioning to acquire from said selected avionics sensor a monitored sensor signal configured in a first signal format;   a signal processor for receiving said monitored sensor signal and cross-formatting said monitored sensor signal into a selected sensor reading configured in a second signal format;   a parameter check for evaluating said selected sensor reading such that a monitor trigger signal is issued in response to detection of an anomaly in said selected sensor reading; and   a response module configured to issue an emergency response alarm in response to receiving said monitor trigger signal.   
     
     
         2 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said anomaly response unit communicates with a flight data acquisition unit in the aircraft so as to access and acquire said monitored sensor signal. 
     
     
         3 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said emergency response alarm functions to initiate an aircraft tracking system in the aircraft. 
     
     
         4 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said emergency response alarm functions to send an emergency response signal to initiate an emergency location transmitter in the aircraft, said emergency location transmitter functioning to transmit aircraft coordinates via a search and rescue satellite. 
     
     
         5 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said emergency response alarm functions to send an emergency response signal to a global aeronautical distress safety system and to transmit an emergency message via a global navigation satellite system to authorities. 
     
     
         6 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said emergency response alarm functions to send an emergency response signal to a global aeronautical distress safety system and to transmit the distressed aircraft position via a global navigation satellite system to authorities. 
     
     
         7 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said emergency response alarm functions to send an emergency response signal to a global aeronautical distress safety system and to continuously transmits and reports the distressed aircraft position in predetermines timed increments via a global navigation satellite system to authorities. 
     
     
         8 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said emergency response alarm functions to send an emergency response signal to a global aeronautical distress safety system and to continuously transmits and reports the distressed aircraft position in predetermines timed increments via a global navigation satellite system to authorities and concurrently activates the aircraft's emergency location transmitter which transmits a separate and distinct transmission emergency signal to the Search and Rescue personnel via the Search and Rescue satellite constellation. 
     
     
         9 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said emergency response alarm is issued by said response module in responsive to a manual trigger emergency response alarm sent by one of a aircraft crew member, an authorized passenger, or a ground-based authority. 
     
     
         10 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said anomaly response unit further comprises an anomaly response unit controller and a programmable link, said anomaly response controller functioning to receive anomaly response unit flight operation data and operating parameter updates via said programmable link, said anomaly response unit controller further functioning to store aircraft operating parameters in an anomaly response unit database. 
     
     
         11 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said selected sensor reading comprises an aircraft attitude sensor reading. 
     
     
         12 . The anomaly response unit of  claim 1  wherein said selected sensor reading comprises a reading derived from a sensor signal produced by one of a digital gyroscope, a digital accelerometer, an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) device, a terrain awareness warning sensor, a differential pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an open cockpit door sensor, a flight plan sensor, a radar system, an altimeter, a transponder, a smoke detector, and an engine sensor. 
     
     
         13 . A method of remotely tracking a distressed aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:
 coupling to a selected avionics sensor in the aircraft avionics system so as to acquire from said selected avionics sensor a monitored sensor signal configured in a first signal format;   cross-formatting said monitored sensor signal into a selected sensor reading configured in a second signal format;   evaluating said selected sensor reading against a predetermined sensor operating range of parameter values;   if said selected sensor reading lies outside said predetermined sensor operating range of parameter values, sending a monitor trigger signal to a response module;   issuing an emergency response alarm from said response module in response to said monitor trigger signal; and   communicating with a pre-established group of ground-based personnel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of initiating an aircraft tracking system in response to said step of issuing said emergency response alarm, said aircraft tracking system configured to automatically track, record, and report a geo-location and a GPS location of the aircraft to a plurality of ground-based government security personnel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the steps of: (i) initiating operation of at least one of an emergency location transmitter and a global aeronautical distress safety system in the aircraft, and (ii) transmitting an emergency message via a global navigation satellite system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of reporting, at a predetermined rate of transmission, a geo-location and a GPS location of the aircraft to a plurality of ground-based government security personnel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said monitored sensor signal comprises a reading derived from a sensor signal produced by one of a digital gyroscope, a digital accelerometer, an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) device, a terrain awareness warning sensor, a differential pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an open cockpit door sensor, a flight plan sensor, a radar system, an altimeter, a transponder, a smoke detector, and an engine sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said step of coupling to a selected avionics sensor in the aircraft avionics system comprises the step of installing an anomaly response unit in a communication path between a flight data acquisition unit in the aircraft and a flight data recorder in the aircraft, said anomaly response unit including a signal coupler. 
     
     
         19 . An autonomous communication system for remotely tracking a distressed aircraft, said system comprising:
 an aircraft tracking system for automatically determining current aircraft location;   an avionics monitoring system in communication with an avionics system in the aircraft, said avionics monitoring system including
 a signal coupler in communication with a selected avionics sensor in the aircraft avionics system, said signal coupler functioning to acquire from said selected avionics sensor a monitored sensor signal configured in a first signal format; 
 a signal processor for receiving said monitored sensor signal and cross-formatting said monitored sensor signal into a selected sensor reading configured in a second signal format; 
 a parameter check for evaluating said selected sensor reading such that a monitor trigger signal is issued in response to detection of an anomaly in said selected sensor reading; 
 a response module configured to issue an emergency response alarm in response to receiving said monitor trigger signal; 
 a transmitter for transmitting an emergency message in response to receiving said emergency response alarm; 
 a transmitter for transmitting an emergency homing transmission in response to receiving said emergency response alarm; and 
 a satellite communication system for sending said emergency message and homing transmission to ground based personnel. 
   
     
     
         20 . The communication system of  claim 19  wherein said response module issues said emergency response alarm to at least one of an emergency location transmitter, a global aeronautical distress safety system transmitter, a global navigation satellite system, a search and rescue satellite, an indium communication satellite, and said aircraft tracking system.