A totally integrated system for automatic formation flight control of multiple
vehicles not limited to aircraft, helicopters, or space platforms. For instance,
the system may be used to control any number of aircraft in a pre-determined flight
formation and provide "positive" identification, control and discrete communications
between any number of vehicles. Thus the invention prevents mid-air collisions
between vehicles in formation flight. The system generally includes a processor
located on the vehicles to enable communications, unique position computations
and control messaging between any number of aircraft in formation flight, a communications
transceiver located on the vehicle that provides discrete communication links to
any number of aircraft in formation flight an autopilot and a display. The processor
may take into consideration velocity, direction, winds aloft, wing tip clearance
of any number of vehicles. On aircraft, the system will display the current formation
and vehicles relative position under control by this invention. The system may
be overridden in flight.
