US 12,367,782 B1
System and apparatus for automatic selection of alternate landing site from a hierarchy of landing sites
Sean Patrick Suiter, Omaha, NE (US); and Richard Andrew Kruse, Omaha, NE (US)
Assigned to Otto Aero Company, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed by Otto Aero Company, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed on May 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/203,319.
Application 18/203,319 is a continuation of application No. 17/544,645, filed on Dec. 7, 2021.
Application 17/544,645 is a continuation of application No. 17/492,448, filed on Oct. 1, 2021, granted, now 11,657,721, issued on May 23, 2023.
Application 17/544,645 is a continuation of application No. 17/478,807, filed on Sep. 17, 2021, granted, now 11,551,564, issued on Jan. 10, 2023.
Application 17/544,645 is a continuation of application No. 17/478,821, filed on Sep. 17, 2021, granted, now 11,699,351.
Application 17/492,448 is a continuation of application No. 16/673,725, filed on Nov. 14, 2019.
Application 17/478,821 is a continuation of application No. 16/673,725, filed on Nov. 14, 2019.
Application 17/478,807 is a continuation of application No. 16/673,725, filed on Nov. 14, 2019.
Application 16/673,725 is a continuation of application No. 15/152,437, filed on May 11, 2016, granted, now 10,467,913, issued on Nov. 5, 2019.
Application 17/492,448 is a continuation of application No. 14/741,283, filed on Jun. 16, 2015, granted, now 9,310,222, issued on Apr. 12, 2016.
Application 14/741,283 is a continuation of application No. 14/142,390, filed on Dec. 27, 2013, abandoned.
Application 15/152,437 is a continuation of application No. 14/142,390, filed on Dec. 27, 2013, abandoned.
Application 15/152,437 is a continuation of application No. 13/831,398, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/024,723, filed on Jul. 15, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/012,734, filed on Jun. 16, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/900,199, filed on Nov. 5, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/870,125, filed on Aug. 26, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/754,522, filed on Jan. 18, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/750,286, filed on Jan. 8, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/747,051, filed on Dec. 28, 2012.
Int. Cl. G08G 5/55 (2025.01); B64D 45/08 (2006.01); G08G 5/21 (2025.01); G08G 5/26 (2025.01); G08G 5/30 (2025.01); G08G 5/34 (2025.01); G08G 5/54 (2025.01); G08G 5/58 (2025.01); G08G 5/76 (2025.01)
CPC G08G 5/55 (2025.01) [B64D 45/08 (2013.01); G08G 5/21 (2025.01); G08G 5/30 (2025.01); G08G 5/34 (2025.01); G08G 5/54 (2025.01); G08G 5/58 (2025.01); G08G 5/76 (2025.01); G08G 5/26 (2025.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft comprising:
(a) database operable to store information related to terrain;
(b) an autopilot;
(c) an emergency state monitor, wherein said emergency state monitor is operable to activate an emergency state in the event that an emergency state is manually activated through a system interface;
(d) an alternate landing site selector, comprising:
a hierarchy calculator capable of ranking a plurality of alternate landing sites by assigning a suitability value to each alternate landing site, wherein each assigned suitability value is based on weighting a plurality of factors corresponding to that site's suitability for landing;
wherein after activation of an emergency state, said alternate landing site selector is operable to automatically:
(1) select an alternate landing site from the ranked plurality of alternate landing sites based on the assigned suitability values;
(2) calculate a route from a current position of the aircraft to an approach fix associated with the selected alternate landing site, the route accounting for at least terrain; and
(3) cause the autopilot to direct the aircraft to fly to the approach fix associated with the selected alternate landing site.