Lane guidance system

Claim 1

An onboard, lane guidance navigation system for acquiring and maintaining alignment of the track of a piloted vehicle with a line segment on a surface, said system comprising at least one antenna and receiver for receiving navigation signals, data sufficient to locate said line segment, a computer for continuously resolving navigation parameters and generating navigation signals, and a visual indicator located within said pilot's normal field of forward outside vision, said indicator comprising a horizontal lightbar, said lightbar illuminatable alternatively to left and right of a centerpoint in such direction and in such length as controlled by said navigation signals, said navigation parameters comprising the angle of intercept between said line segment and said track, the perpendicular distance of said vehicle from said line segment, and the rate of turn of said vehicle over the plane of said surface, said navigation signals comprising the sum of each of said navigation parameters as factored by a respective index, said sum being displayed on said indicator and there representing a pilot instruction for imparting corrective control action to said vehicle for said acquiring and maintaining alignment of said track and said line segment which said instruction said pilot is able to see and respond to without looking away from said normal field of forward outside vision.

Claim 15

A method for prompting a pilot to make necessary control actions to a vehicle to acquire and maintain alignment of the track of said vehicle with a line segment on a surface, comprising the steps of: receiving navigation reference signals by means of an antenna and receiver, having on hand data sufficient to locate said line segment, resolving navigation parameters and generating navigation signals by means of a navigation computer and control panel, presenting said navigation signals to said pilot on a visual indicator located within said pilot's normal field of forward outside vision, said indicator comprising a horizontal upper lightbar and a horizontal lower lightbar, each said lightbar comprising a row of discrete light sources and having a visually identifiable centerpoint, said light sources individually illuminatable as controlled by said navigation signals, said navigation parameters comprising the relative locations of said line segment with respect to said vehicle and said track of said vehicle, said navigation signals comprising indications of lateral displacement from said line segment of a first point extended rearward of said vehicle being presented on said lower bar of said indicator and lateral displacement from said line segment of a second point extending forward of said vehicle being represented on said upper bar of said indicator, thereby simulating actual flagmen marking the ends of said line segment, said indications of said lateral displacements of said points representing a pilot instruction for imparting corrective control action to said vehicle for said acquiring and maintaining alignment of said track and said line segment, which said instruction said pilot is able to see and respond to without looking away from said normal field of forward outside vision, said navigation parameters further comprising the angle of intercept between said line segment and said track, the perpendicular distance of said vehicle from said line segment, and the rate of turn of said vehicle over the plane of said surface, said navigation signals further comprising the sum of each of said angle of intercept between said line segment and said track, said perpendicular distance of said vehicle from said line segment, and said rate of turn of said vehicle in the plane of said surface as factored by a respective index, each said lightbar of said indicator being illuminatable alternatively to left and right of said centerpoint in such direction and in such length as controlled by respective said navigation signals, said sum being presented on said indicator such that said pilot is able to continuously monitor and respond to said signals with said necessary control actions for said acquiring and maintaining alignment of said track and said line segment without looking away from said normal field of forward outside vision, the choice between presentation on said indicator of said lateral displacement and said sum being pilot-selectable.

Claim 16

A method for prompting a pilot to make necessary control actions to a vehicle to acquire and maintain alignment of the track of said vehicle with a line segment on a surface, comprising the steps of: receiving navigation reference signals by means of an antenna and receiver, having on hand data sufficient to locate said line segment, resolving navigation parameters and generating navigation signals by means of a navigation computer and control panel, presenting said navigation signals to said pilot on a visual indicator located within said pilot's normal field of forward outside vision, said indicator comprising a horizontal upper lightbar and a horizontal lower lightbar, each said lightbar comprising a row of discrete light sources and having a visually identifiable centerpoint, said light sources individually illuminatable as controlled by said navigation signals, said navigation parameters comprising the relative locations of said line segment with respect to said vehicle and said track of said vehicle, said navigation signals comprising indications of lateral displacement from said line segment of a first point extended rearward of said vehicle being presented on said lower bar of said indicator and lateral displacement from said line segment of a second point extending forward of said vehicle being represented on said upper bar of said indicator, thereby simulating actual flagmen marking the ends of said line segment, said indications of said lateral displacements of said points representing a pilot instruction for imparting corrective control action to said vehicle for said acquiring and maintaining alignment of said track and said line segment, which said instruction said pilot is able to see and respond to without looking away from said normal field of forward outside vision, said navigation parameters further comprising the angle of intercept between said line segment and said track, the perpendicular distance of said vehicle from said line segment, and the rate of turn of said vehicle over the plane of said surface, said navigation signals further comprising the sum of each of said angle of intercept between said line segment and said track, said perpendicular distance of said vehicle from said line segment, and said rate of turn of said vehicle in the plane of said surface as factored by a respective index, each said lightbar of said indicator being illuminatable alternatively to left and right of said centerpoint in such direction and in such length as controlled by respective said navigation signals, said sum being presented on said indicator such that said pilot is able to continuously monitor and respond to said signals with said necessary control actions for said acquiring and maintaining alignment of said track and said line segment without looking away from said normal field of forward outside vision, the choice between presentation on said indicator of said lateral displacement and said sum being pilot-selectable.