A MOVING DIGITAL MAP UNIT Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device which accommodates the map database therein, can generate real time moving map and can be integrated on an aircraft. Background of the Invention

In the state of the art applications, representations are made on the display screens provided in air platforms via maps. The real time moving map information required by the said air platforms is obtained by hardware and software designs which do not meet open architecture standards, in other words, are not compatible with DO-178B standard. In the said hardware and software designs which do not meet the open architecture standards, it is not possible to enhance map database and data processing capacity as a result of the new requirements to be added or to rapidly integrate the design with functions that it requires beyond its current capabilities.

Problems Solved by the Invention

An objective of the present invention is to provide a digital map unit which is integrated onto aircrafts and which enables pilots and co-pilots to perform their tasks effectively by means of its storage capacity that can meet the requirements of different applications, high processing power and two high resolution map images that are independent from each other. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a digital map unit in which additional functions can rapidly be integrated in the future thanks to its design realized by open architecture techniques. In addition to its reliable and durable design and advanced cooling and heating method techniques, the digital map unit of the present invention enables operation of the fixed and rotary wing platforms under harsh environmental conditions.

Furthermore, digital map unit of the present invention is developed in compliance with the environmental requirements determined by military standards (MIL- HDBK-5400, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-704 and MIL-STD-461). Within this framework, altitude, low and high temperature, thermal shock, humidity, vibration, mechanical shock, dust, salty atmosphere, rain, acceleration, temperature-altitude, temperature-vibration, power and EMI/EMC tests are applied to the equipment.

Detailed Description of the Invention

A moving digital map unit developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the moving digital map unit.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the moving digital map unit. The components in the figures are given reference numbers as follows:

1. Moving digital map unit

2. Main body

3. Data storage unit

4. Avionic processing card

5. Graphic processing card 6. Discrete interface card

7. Power card

8. Power filter

V. VME-64x data bus

G. Power line

A moving digital map unit (1), which enables generation of real time moving map and which allows integrating additional functions in the future thanks to its design realized by open architecture techniques, basically comprises

- at least one main body (2) which provides a mounting interface for the electronic cards provided therein,

at least one data storage unit (3) wherein a moving digital map software developed with open architecture is stored,

at least one avionic processing card (4) which is adapted to run the said moving digital map software,

at least one graphic processing card (5) which is adapted to process the digital information received from the data storage unit (3) and avionic processing card (4) and to transfer it to the pilot/co-pilot display screen provided in the aircraft in order to be displayed,

- at least one discrete interface card (6) which provides a connection interface for discrete signals,

at least one power card (7) which supplies the power required by the electronic cards used within the unit,

at least one power filter (8) which is adapted to prevent electromagnetic interference emitted by the power line (G).

The moving digital map unit (1) of the present invention is developed basically as an open architecture structure and compatible with VME-x64 (Versa Module Europa), PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) and PMC (PCI Mezzanine Card) standards. In one embodiment of the invention, the main body (2) of the moving digital map unit (1) is designed and produced for precision casting method. The said main body (2) provides a mounting interface for the electronic cards provided therein. The cards used within the unit are cooled via heat transmission and heat discharge means are taken into consideration during layout design.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided at least one fan on the main body (2) and the outer part of the main body (2) is enabled to be cooled by the said fan.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main body (2) preferably includes two data storage units (3), two 6U VME electronic card type avionic processing cards (4), two graphic processing cards (5), one discrete interface card (6), one power card (7), one power filter (8) and at least one empty slot to which 6U VME electronic card type avionic processing card (4) can be inserted. By means of the fact that there are two of some of the electronic cards, two high resolution map images independent from each other can be transferred to the display screens of the pilot and co-pilot, and thus the pilot and the co-pilot are enabled to carry out the missions effectively.

Data such as images, layers, threats, etc. stored in the data storage unit (3) are transferred to the avionic processing card (4), and the said data are processed in the light of the commands coming via the MIL-STD-1553 data bus and are sent to the graphic processing card (5) in order to be displayed in the pilot's and/or co- pilot's display screen. The graphic processing card (5) transmits them to the pilot's and/or co-pilot's display screen via the VME-64x data bus (V). Thanks to this data flow taking place in both of the processing cards (4), the pilot and the copilot are provided with the following features by means of two map images which are independent from each other: Vertical Cross Section (VCS) Analysis: A tool which enables to dynamically display the land profile throughout the flight route by using vertical cross sections.

Height above Terrain (HAT) Analysis: A tool which intends to compare the terrain elevations obtained by Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) with the present height of the helicopter above the terrain and to enhance terrain awareness of the pilots during low altitude flights.

Line of Sight (LOS) Analysis: A tool which enables to determine the visible sites depending on the position of the helicopter.

- Threat Analysis: A tool which is prepared in the ground station and installed on the helicopter, and which shows the scout site of the threat updated instantaneously according to the information about the height of the helicopter and the range that it can shoot at.

Point of Interest (POI) Search: A tool which provides abilities of search/display within the point layer information regarding various points of interests prepared in the ground station.

Obstacle warning function,

- Map data in seven scales (1/25K, 1/50K, 1/lOOK, 1/250K, 1/500K, 1/lM, 1/2M),

- Satellite photographs, raster maps and vector data representation,

3D map representation with the additionally processed DTED-2 data in 2D map mode,

Representation of the tactical data on the map (VMF, Image support) and the data in the navigation database (JEPPESEN/DAFIF support),

- Two independent image channels,

Options of using cursor and keys in the pilot interface,

Turkish and English language selection.

In one embodiment of the invention, data such as speed, height, etc. of the platform measured by the sensors are transferred to the avionic processing card (4) via the discrete interface card (6), and these data are processed and sent to the graphic processing card (5) in order to be displayed in the pilot's and/or co-pilot's display screen. The graphic processing card (5) also transmits them to the pilot's and/or co-pilot's display screen via the VME-64x data bus (V). System safety and reliability are maintained at top level by means of a moving digital map software preferably developed in compliance with RTCA/DO-178B software development standard. The concept of partition has emerged together with the concept of software security. Partitioning is separating software pieces from each other completely in terms of both use of memory and use of processor time. Thus, the software in the data storage unit (3) can be run on a single processor by the avionic processor card (4) without affecting each other as if they are run on different processors. An error occurring in one partition does not affect another partition under any circumstances, and when an error occurs in the said partition it can alone be restarted.