Method and system for recommending optimized routes for a vehicle, and associated control unit and computer program
A computer-based system on board a vehicle optimizes aircraft routes in real-time using a confidence domain to address suboptimal trajectory issues, reducing fuel consumption and travel time while adhering to environmental constraints without flight tests.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- THALES SA
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-25
AI Technical Summary
Current aircraft trajectory optimizations are suboptimal in terms of fuel consumption and travel time due to the inability to account for real-time changes in external conditions and are not always implemented by pilots, necessitating costly flight test campaigns for validation.
A computer-based system on board a vehicle, connected to a server and performance database, evaluates optimized routes in real-time using a predefined confidence domain to recommend routes that reduce fuel consumption and travel time while adhering to environmental constraints, eliminating the need for costly real-world testing.
The system effectively reduces fuel consumption and optimizes travel time by providing validated route recommendations within a confidence domain, enhancing pilot confidence and avoiding costly flight tests.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025087143_25062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Vehicle-optimized route recommendation method and system, associated computer and software
[0002] The present invention relates to a method, implemented by a system equipped with a computer intended to be mounted on board a vehicle, for recommending optimized routes for said vehicle.
[0003] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising software instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement such a method of recommending optimized routes.
[0004] The invention also relates to such a computer, as well as a system for recommending optimized routes for a vehicle, the system comprising such a computer.
[0005] The vehicle is typically, but not exclusively, an aircraft.
[0006] In the field of air transport, aircraft flight optimizations are currently of two types: flight plan optimizations, which are performed before the flight and focus primarily on the overall optimization of the flight plan; and trajectory optimizations, which are performed during the flight (the latter may concern, for example, climb, descent, flight level, or finding the shortest possible path for the aircraft). Optimizing the aircraft's climb involves finding a vertical climb profile that either saves fuel or meets noise requirements. Optimizing the aircraft's descent involves finding a vertical profile that saves fuel: this is generally a profile that approximates a continuous descent.Optimizing an aircraft's flight level involves finding the optimal cruising flight level that maximizes fuel efficiency (through favorable winds and / or optimal performance), passenger comfort (by avoiding turbulence), or contrail avoidance. Finding the shortest lateral flight path, also known as the great circle route, is performed to save time and fuel.
[0007] Flight plan optimizations are the most common type of optimization performed by airlines and are used to develop the aircraft's trajectory as a series of predefined waypoints. However, such optimizations are limited because they must adhere to air routes defined by air navigation authorities and do not account for changes in external conditions (weather, incidents, etc.) that may occur during the flight. Therefore, airlines seek to supplement them with trajectory optimizations.
[0008] Aircraft trajectory optimizations, as traditionally used in the prior art, are local optimizations or optimizations within a given aircraft trajectory to optimize specific phases of that trajectory (such as climb, descent, flight level, or finding the shortest path for the aircraft). However, designing these optimizations is difficult because they must take into account constraints imposed by air traffic control, meteorological phenomena, the aircraft's condition, and require in-depth knowledge of the aircraft's performance. Furthermore, during flight, even if an optimization is proposed, pilots do not always implement it due to workload, confidence, or pilot habit.This is why, even though solutions exist, airlines still doubt the reality of the gains achieved and implement costly flight test campaigns to verify them. This limits the adoption of these optimizations by these airlines.
[0009] Thus, the current implementation of these local trajectory optimizations is not only suboptimal in terms of overall fuel consumption and / or aircraft travel time, but they are also not always implemented in practice by pilots.
[0010] The aim of the invention is therefore to propose a method, implemented by a system equipped with a computer intended to be installed on board a vehicle, for recommending optimized routes for said vehicle, making it possible to reduce overall fuel consumption and / or optimize the vehicle's travel time, while respecting environmental constraints and eliminating the need for costly real-world testing.
[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a method, implemented by a system equipped with a computer intended to be installed on board a vehicle, for recommending optimized routes for said vehicle, the computer being connected to at least one server storing a vehicle route optimization algorithm and to a performance database storing a vehicle performance model, the performance model storing a set of possible routes for the vehicle and associating vehicle performance values with each of the stored vehicle routes, the computer comprising an optimized route evaluation module and a decision module, the optimized route evaluation module being configured to receive optimized route proposals from said at least one server and,based on said optimized route proposals received and according to a current vehicle context and a predefined confidence domain received by the computer, to transmit to the decision module at least one optimized route proposal associated with vehicle performance values, the decision module being linked to the optimized route evaluation module and being configured to check, according to a predefined configuration stored within the computer, whether said at least one optimized route proposal can be issued or not as an optimized route recommendation from the computer, the process comprising the following steps:,
[0012] - the receipt, by the optimized route evaluation module, of at least one optimized route proposal from said at least one server, then, for each optimized route proposal received:
[0013] - the verification, by the optimized route evaluation module, of whether the proposed optimized route associated with the vehicle's current context belongs to the predefined confidence domain or not.
[0014] - if the proposed optimized route associated with the vehicle's current context belongs to the predefined confidence domain, the transmission of said proposed optimized route to the performance database, via the optimized route evaluation module,
[0015] - the reception, by the optimized route evaluation module, of vehicle performance values associated with said optimized route proposal,
[0016] - the transmission to the decision-making module, via the optimized route evaluation module, of said optimized route proposal associated with said received vehicle performance values,
[0017] - the verification, by the decision module and according to the predefined configuration, of whether the said optimized route proposal can be issued as an optimized route recommendation by the computer.
[0018] - if said optimized route proposal can be issued at the output of the computer, the output at the output of the computer, by the decision module, of said optimized route proposal as an optimized route recommendation.
[0019] Thanks to the fact that the method according to the invention allows for the real-time recommendation of an optimized route representing the best possible route (among several considered routes) at the current moment in terms of overall fuel consumption and / or vehicle travel time, the vehicle's overall fuel consumption is advantageously reduced and / or its travel time is optimized, while respecting environmental constraints and eliminating the need for costly real-world testing. Furthermore, in the specific case where the vehicle is an aircraft, the method according to the invention provides airlines with greater confidence since the gains are evaluated by a model that has been validated experimentally within a given confidence domain. In addition, this type of method makes it possible to determine which optimizations are actually accepted and implemented by the aircraft pilot.This allows the airline to advantageously avoid costly flight tests.
[0020] The trajectory of a vehicle is understood to be any set or succession of points of passage for the vehicle, the latter being defined in terrestrial coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude).
[0021] The term "vehicle path" refers to both the vehicle's trajectory and a definition of its lateral path (for example, defined by a set of segments and arcs of circles), and, where applicable, its vertical path, particularly in the case of an aircraft (for example, defined by altitude differences between waypoints). A vehicle path can be complete (for example, from takeoff to landing in the case of an aircraft) or partial (describing, for example, a portion of the aircraft's flight according to this specific example).
[0022] The term "vehicle" means any type of vehicle such as a motor vehicle, an aircraft, a ship, a railway vehicle, a spacecraft, a moped, a motorcycle, or any other vehicle capable of carrying at least one passenger or intended for the transport of persons or objects.
[0023] A performance model is defined as any model that provides vehicle performance (such as, for example, the vehicle's overall fuel consumption and / or the vehicle's travel time) for a given route of that vehicle.
[0024] A confidence domain is defined as a region within which the performance model provides reliable predictions based on statistical criteria. The confidence domain can include elements of various forms, such as pairs of data (validated context, validated route) and linearization rules that define ranges of context and vehicle routes, or ranges of context and vehicle performance variables (acceleration, speed, etc.). The linearization rules consist of interpolations between points and / or route segments within the confidence domain to obtain a continuous confidence domain. The confidence domain includes, in particular, a set of vehicle routes for which the confidence level in the performance model exceeds a predefined minimum confidence level.According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the method for recommending optimized routes comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:
[0025] - the vehicle is an aircraft;
[0026] - the current vehicle context includes one or more data points belonging to the group consisting of: weather conditions, air traffic, aircraft flight parameters, and the aircraft's current trajectory;
[0027] - the vehicle's performance values relate to the aircraft's fuel consumption and / or the aircraft's flight time;
[0028] - during the verification step implemented by the decision module, the predefined configuration includes a calculation of a predefined evaluation criterion, and the decision module checks whether or not the said optimized route proposal can be issued as an optimized route recommendation by comparing the evaluation criterion calculated for said optimized route proposal to other evaluation criteria calculated for other optimized route proposals received from the evaluation module, said optimized route proposal being issued as an output of the calculator if the evaluation criterion calculated for said proposal corresponds to an optimal criterion value;
[0029] - the system further includes a qualification module linked to the computer and the performance database, and the process further includes a qualification step comprising a calculation of said predefined confidence domain and a transmission to the computer of said predefined confidence domain, said qualification step being implemented by the qualification module, before the verification step implemented by the optimized path evaluation module;
[0030] - The qualification module includes a data collection sub-module, a database, and a statistical analysis sub-module. The data collection sub-module is configured to receive data relating to past vehicle journeys and previously achieved vehicle performance, as well as the associated vehicle context. The database is connected to both the data collection sub-module and the statistical analysis sub-module. The statistical analysis sub-module is configured to statistically analyze data stored in the database to calculate elements of the predefined confidence domain. The qualification step includes the following sub-steps:
[0031] - the reception, by the data collection sub-module, of data relating to past vehicle journeys and vehicle performance already achieved, as well as the associated vehicle context, and then, for each past vehicle journey received by the data collection sub-module:
[0032] - the transmission to the performance database, via the data collection sub-module, of said past journey,
[0033] - the reception, by the data collection sub-module, of performance values predicted for the vehicle and associated with said past journey,
[0034] - the transmission to the database, by the data collection sub-module, of a dataset including said past journey, the context of the vehicle associated with said past journey, the vehicle's performance achieved for said past journey, and the vehicle's predicted performance for said past journey.
[0035] - Statistical analysis, using the statistical analysis sub-module, of the data stored in the database in order to calculate elements of the predefined confidence domain,
[0036] - the transmission to the computer, via the statistical analysis sub-module, of the predefined calculated confidence domain;
[0037] - the qualification step is carried out either statically or dynamically on a continuous basis.
[0038] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising software instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement a method for recommending optimized routes, as defined above.
[0039] The invention also relates to a computer intended to be installed on board a vehicle, the computer being capable of being connected to at least one server storing a vehicle route optimization algorithm and to a performance database storing a vehicle performance model, the performance model storing a set of possible routes for the vehicle and associating vehicle performance values with each of the stored vehicle routes, the computer comprising:
[0040] - a route optimization evaluation module configured to receive route optimization proposals from at least one server,
[0041] - a decision module linked to the optimized route evaluation module, the optimized route evaluation module being configured to transmit to the decision module, on the basis of said optimized route proposals received and according to a current vehicle context and a predefined confidence domain received by the computer, at least one optimized route proposal associated with vehicle performance values, the decision module being configured to check, according to a predefined configuration stored within the computer, whether said at least one optimized route proposal can be issued or not at the computer output as an optimized route recommendation.
[0042] The invention also relates to a system for recommending optimized routes for a vehicle, the system comprising a computer intended to be installed on board the vehicle, and a qualification module connected to the computer and capable of being connected to a performance database, the computer being as defined above, the qualification module comprising a data collection sub-module, a database and a statistical analysis sub-module, the data collection sub-module being configured to receive data relating to past vehicle journeys and vehicle performance already achieved as well as the associated vehicle context, the database being connected on the one hand to the data collection sub-module and on the other hand to the statistical analysis sub-module,The statistical analysis sub-module is configured to statistically analyze data stored in the database in order to calculate elements of the predefined confidence domain.
[0043] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the optimized route recommendation system comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:
[0044] - the qualification module is intended to be embedded in a computer on board the vehicle or in a computer external to the vehicle, or includes a first part intended to be embedded in a computer on board the vehicle and a second part intended to be embedded in a computer external to the vehicle;
[0045] - The system is an open-world platform.
[0046] These features and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0047] - Figure 1 is a schematic view of a route recommendation system optimized for a vehicle according to the invention;
[0048] - Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating details of the first part of the system in Figure 1;
[0049] - Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating details of a second part of the system shown in Figure 1; and
[0050] - Figure 4 is a flowchart of a method for recommending optimized routes for a vehicle according to the invention, the method being implemented by the system of Figure 1. A system 2 for recommending optimized routes for a vehicle according to an example of an embodiment of the invention is schematically represented in Figures 1 to 3. In this particular example of an embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle is an aircraft, without this being limiting within the scope of the present invention.
[0051] The optimized route recommendation system 2 comprises a qualification module 6 and a computer 8. The computer 8 is onboard the vehicle. The qualification module 6 is, for example, onboard a computer external to the vehicle (this computer is not shown in the figures for clarity), typically a ground-based computer when the vehicle is an aircraft. Alternatively, all or part of the qualification module 6 is onboard a computer onboard the vehicle, as will be detailed later. Preferably, when the vehicle is an aircraft, the optimized route recommendation system 2 is an open-world platform (as opposed to the avionics domain, which is more regulated and requires certifications).
[0052] System 2 is connected to a performance database 10, which is located either outside the vehicle, inside the vehicle, or divided into two parts: one outside the vehicle and the other inside the vehicle. System 2 is also connected to several servers, specifically three servers S1, S2, and S3 in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3. Each server S1, S2, and S3 stores a vehicle route optimization algorithm A1, A2, and A3. Each server S1, S2, and S3 is located inside or outside the vehicle and is configured as a client device of System 2. Each algorithm A1, A2, and A3 is configured to generate optimized vehicle route proposals, and each server S1, S2, and S3 is configured to transmit these optimized route proposals to System 2.The transmission of optimized route proposals to system 2 typically happens on a rolling basis.
[0053] The optimized route recommendation system 2 is also linked to third-party systems 11 embedded on board the vehicle. When the vehicle is an aircraft, such third-party systems 11 are, for example, aircraft systems configured to provide current context to system 2. The aircraft's current context includes, for example, one or more data points belonging to the group consisting of: weather conditions, air traffic, aircraft flight parameters, and the aircraft's current trajectory. Other third-party systems 11 are, for example, configured to provide system 2 with data relating to past vehicle routes and previously achieved vehicle performance. The qualification module 6 is linked to the computer 8. As illustrated in Figure 2, the qualification module 6 includes a data collection sub-module 14, a database 16, and a statistical analysis sub-module 18.
[0054] The data collection sub-module 14 is connected to the performance database 10 and to one or more third-party systems 11 and is configured to receive data from these third-party systems 11 relating to past vehicle journeys and previously achieved vehicle performance, as well as the associated vehicle context. When the vehicle is an aircraft, such data relating to past vehicle journeys and previously achieved vehicle performance, as well as the associated vehicle context, are obtained, for example, from actual flights, using data from flight recorders, or from simulated flights using synthetic models or other sufficiently reliable performance models.
[0055] Database 16 is linked on one side to the data collection sub-module 14 and on the other side to the statistical analysis sub-module 18. The statistical analysis sub-module 18 is configured to statistically analyze data stored in database 16 in order to calculate elements of a predefined confidence domain 20.
[0056] As illustrated in Figure 3, the computer 8 comprises a module 22 for evaluating optimized paths and a decision module 24 connected to the optimized path evaluation module 22. The computer 8 also includes memory resources 26 storing a predefined configuration 28.
[0057] The optimized route evaluation module 22 is connected to each of the servers S1, S2, S3, to the performance database 10 and to one or more third-party system(s) 11. The optimized route evaluation module 22 is configured to receive optimized route proposals from each of the servers S1, S2, S3 and to receive the current context from the third-party system(s) 11. The optimized route evaluation module 22 is also configured to transmit to the decision module 24, based on the optimized route proposals received and according to the current vehicle context and the predefined trust domain 20 received, at least one optimized route proposal associated with vehicle performance values.
[0058] The decision module 24 is configured to check, according to the predefined configuration 28 stored within the computer 8, whether the or each proposal for an optimized route can be issued or not at the output of the computer 8 as an optimized route recommendation.
[0059] Preferably, the predefined configuration 28 includes a calculation of a predefined evaluation criterion. The performance base 10 stores a performance model 30 of the vehicle. The performance model 30 stores a set of possible routes for the vehicle and associates vehicle performance values with each of the stored vehicle routes. Preferably, when the vehicle is an aircraft, the vehicle performance values relate to the aircraft's fuel consumption and / or the aircraft's flight time.
[0060] As will be detailed later, the qualification module 6 ensures that the optimized routes selected by the calculator 8 provide a real gain; in other words, it allows the calculator 8 to know in which domain (called here the confidence domain 20) the calculator 8 can allow an evaluation and selection of the optimized routes which is appropriate.
[0061] The operation of the system 2 for recommending optimized routes will now be explained, in particular with the help of figure 4 representing a flowchart of the process of recommending optimized routes for the vehicle, according to the invention, the process being implemented by system 2.
[0062] The process includes an initial qualification step 100, implemented by the qualification module 6. This initial step 100 includes a first sub-step 110 during which the data collection sub-module 14 receives from one or more third-party system(s) 11 data relating to past vehicle journeys and vehicle performance already achieved, as well as the associated vehicle context.
[0063] The initial qualification step 100 then includes, for each past journey of the vehicle received by the data collection sub-module 14:
[0064] - a sub-step 112 of transmission to the performance database 10, via the data collection sub-module 14, of the past path, then
[0065] - a sub-step 114 of reception, by the data collection sub-module 14, of predicted performance values for the vehicle and associated with the past journey (such values being provided by the performance database 10 via a query of the performance model 30), then
[0066] - a sub-step 116 of transmission to database 16, by sub-module 14 of data collection, of a set of data including the past journey, the context of the vehicle associated with the past journey, the vehicle performance achieved for the past journey and the performance predicted for the vehicle for the past journey.
[0067] The initial qualification step 100 then includes a sub-step 118 during which the statistical analysis sub-module 18 performs a statistical analysis of the data stored in the database 16, in order to calculate elements of the predefined confidence domain 20. Such a statistical analysis typically consists of a distribution over the performance gaps, thus defining a Gaussian, and then a conservation of the portions of the path corresponding to the Gaussian up to a predefined standard deviation.
[0068] The initial qualification step 100 finally includes a sub-step 120 during which the statistical analysis sub-module 18 transmits the predefined confidence domain 20 to the computer 8. In practice, the predefined confidence domain 20 is made available to the computer 8, which has permanent access to it.
[0069] Substeps 112 to 120 are then repeated for each new data received by the data collection submodule 14 during the first substep 110. It should be noted that, according to one embodiment of the invention, substeps 118 and 120 are reimplemented each time the performance model 30 stored in the performance database 10 changes. The confidence domain 20 is thus continuously updated.
[0070] The process includes a parallel or subsequent step 200 during which the optimized path evaluation module 22 receives at least one optimized path proposal from one of the servers S1, S2, S3.
[0071] The process then includes, for each proposed optimized route received:
[0072] - a step 300 consisting of module 22, which evaluates optimized routes, checking whether this proposed optimized route, associated with the vehicle's current context, belongs to the predefined confidence domain 20 or not, then
[0073] - if the proposed optimized route associated with the current vehicle context, which is received during step 300, belongs to the predefined confidence domain 20, a step 400 transmits this proposed optimized route to the performance database 10, via the optimized route evaluation module 22, then
[0074] - a step 500 of reception, by the optimized route evaluation module 22, of vehicle performance values associated with this proposed optimized route (such values being provided by the performance database 10 via a query of the performance model 30), then
[0075] - a step 600 of transmission to the decision module 24, via the optimized route evaluation module 22, of this optimized route proposal associated with the vehicle performance values received during step 500, then
[0076] - a step 700 consisting of the decision module 24 checking, according to the predefined configuration 28, whether this optimized route proposal can be issued or not at the output of the computer 8 as an optimized route recommendation, then - if it is determined during step 700 that this optimized route proposal can be issued at the output of the computer, a step 800 of the decision module 24 issuing this optimized route proposal at the output of the computer 8 as an optimized route recommendation 32.
[0077] During verification step 300, if evaluation module 22 determines that the proposed optimized route, associated with the vehicle's current context, does not fall within the predefined confidence domain 20, then the evaluation of this proposal stops and the corresponding optimized route will not be offered as an optimized route recommendation. Step 200 is then restarted.
[0078] When the predefined configuration 28 includes the calculation of a predefined evaluation criterion, the verification step 700 is performed by comparing this calculated evaluation criterion for the proposed optimized route in question with other evaluation criteria calculated for other proposed optimized routes received from the evaluation module 22. The proposed optimized route in question is then output from the calculator 8 during step 800 if the calculated evaluation criterion for this proposal corresponds to an optimal criterion value. For example, the predefined configuration 28 may define minimum gains below which the evaluated proposed optimized route cannot be issued as an optimized route recommendation. In this case, the calculated evaluation criterion is, for example, the best possible gain among all the proposed optimizations.The predefined configuration 28 can also define conditions in which optimizations can no longer be offered, typically when the vehicle is an aircraft: aircraft flight phases that are close to landing or takeoff, or the presence of too much air traffic around the aircraft, etc.
[0079] During step 800 of output from computer 8 of the optimized route proposal as an optimized route recommendation, this optimized route recommendation 32 can for example take the form of a recommendation notification for a vehicle driving aid (intended for example to be displayed on a vehicle display device), or an identifier of the selected optimized route, or a control instruction intended for a third-party vehicle device, without this being limiting within the scope of the present invention.
[0080] When the vehicle is an aircraft and the qualification module 6 is integrated into a ground-based computer, the qualification performed is based on a performance model 30 specific to a particular aircraft type, and the confidence domain 20 is calculated from the flights of all aircraft of the same type and is therefore quite broad. When the qualification module 6 is integrated into a computer on board the aircraft, the qualification performed is based on a performance model 30 specific to that aircraft, and the confidence domain 20 is calculated from the flights of that aircraft and is therefore quite narrow. When the qualification module 6 comprises a first part integrated into a computer on board the aircraft and a second part integrated into a ground-based computer, the qualification performed is hybrid and combines the specific features of the two aforementioned modes.
[0081] Since the gains are evaluated in real time by a model that has been validated by experience on a given confidence domain 20, it is thus understood that the optimized route recommendation process according to the invention makes it possible to reduce overall fuel consumption and / or optimize vehicle travel time, while respecting environmental constraints and eliminating the need for costly real-world testing.
Claims
DEMANDS 1. A method, implemented by a system (2) equipped with a computer (8) intended to be installed on board a vehicle, for recommending optimized routes for said vehicle, the computer (8) being connected to at least one server (S1, S2, S3) storing a vehicle route optimization algorithm (A1, A2, A3) and to a performance database (10) storing a vehicle performance model (30), the performance model (30) storing a set of possible routes for the vehicle and associating vehicle performance values with each of the stored vehicle routes, the computer (8) comprising an optimized route evaluation module (22) and a decision module (24), the optimized route evaluation module (22) being configured to receive optimized route proposals from said at least one server (S1, S2, S3) and,based on said optimized route proposals received and according to a current vehicle context and a predefined confidence domain (20) received by the computer (8), to transmit to the decision module (24) at least one optimized route proposal associated with vehicle performance values, the decision module (24) being connected to the optimized route evaluation module (22) and being configured to check, according to a predefined configuration (28) stored within the computer (8), whether said at least one optimized route proposal can be issued or not as an optimized route recommendation from the computer (8), the method comprising the following steps:, - the reception (200), by the optimized path evaluation module (22), of at least one optimized path proposal from said at least one server (S1, S2, S3), then, for each optimized path proposal received: - the verification (300), by the optimized route evaluation module (22), of whether said optimized route proposal associated with the current vehicle context belongs or not to the predefined confidence domain (20), the confidence domain comprising a set of vehicle routes for which the confidence level in the performance model is greater than a predefined minimum confidence level, - if said optimized route proposal associated with the current vehicle context belongs to the predefined confidence domain (20), the transmission (300) to the performance basis (10), by the optimized route evaluation module (22), of said optimized route proposal, - the reception (400), by the optimized route evaluation module (22), of vehicle performance values associated with said optimized route proposal, - the transmission (500) to the decision module (24), via the optimized route evaluation module (22), of said optimized route proposal associated with said received vehicle performance values, - the verification (600), by the decision module (24) and according to the predefined configuration (28), of whether said optimized route proposal can be issued or not at the output of the calculator (8) as an optimized route recommendation, the predefined configuration (28) comprising a calculation of a predefined evaluation criterion, and the decision module (28) verifying whether said optimized route proposal can be issued or not at the output of the calculator (8) as an optimized route recommendation by comparing the evaluation criterion calculated for said optimized route proposal to other evaluation criteria calculated for other optimized route proposals received from the evaluation module (22), said optimized route proposal being issued at the output of the calculator (8) if the evaluation criterion calculated for said proposal corresponds to an optimal criterion value, - if said optimized route proposal can be issued at the output of the computer (8), the output at the output of the computer (8), by the decision module (24), of said optimized route proposal as an optimized route recommendation.
2. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.
3. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the current vehicle context includes one or more data points belonging to the group consisting of: weather conditions, air traffic, aircraft flight parameters, and the aircraft's current trajectory.
4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the vehicle performance values relate to the aircraft's fuel consumption and / or the aircraft's flight time.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (2) further comprises a qualification module (6) connected to the computer (8) and the performance base (10), and wherein the method further comprises a qualification step (100) comprising a calculation (118) of said predefined confidence domain (20) and a transmission (120) to the computer (8) of said predefined confidence domain (20), said qualification step (100) being implemented by the qualification module (6), before 16 the verification step (300) implemented by the module (22) for evaluating optimized paths.
6. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein the qualification module (6) comprises a data collection sub-module (14), a database (16), and a statistical analysis sub-module (18), the data collection sub-module (14) being configured to receive data relating to past vehicle journeys and previously achieved vehicle performance, as well as the associated vehicle context, the database (16) being connected on the one hand to the data collection sub-module (14) and on the other hand to the statistical analysis sub-module (18), the statistical analysis sub-module (18) being configured to statistically analyze data stored in the database (16) in order to calculate elements of the predefined confidence domain (20), and wherein the qualification step (100) comprises the following sub-steps: - the reception (110), by the data collection sub-module (14), of data relating to past vehicle journeys and vehicle performance already achieved, as well as the associated vehicle context, then, for each past vehicle journey received by the data collection sub-module (14): - the transmission (112) to the performance database (10), via the data collection sub-module (14), of said past journey, - the reception (114), by the data collection sub-module (14), of performance values predicted for the vehicle and associated with said past journey, - the transmission (116) to the database (16), by the data collection sub-module (14), of a set of data including said past journey, the context of the vehicle associated with said past journey, the vehicle performance achieved for said past journey and the performance predicted for the vehicle for said past journey, - statistical analysis (118), by the statistical analysis sub-module (18), of the data stored in the database (16) in order to calculate elements of the predefined confidence domain (20), - the transmission (120) to the computer (8), by the statistical analysis sub-module (18), of the predefined confidence domain (20) calculated.
7. Computer program comprising software instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 17 8. Computer (8) intended to be installed on board a vehicle, the computer (8) being capable of being connected to at least one server (S1, S2, S3) storing a vehicle route optimization algorithm (A1, A2, A3) and to a performance database (10) storing a vehicle performance model (30), the performance model (30) storing a set of possible routes for the vehicle and associating vehicle performance values with each of the stored vehicle routes, the computer (8) comprising: - a module (22) for evaluating optimized paths configured to receive proposals for optimized paths from said at least one server (S1, S2, S3), - a decision module (24) connected to the optimized route evaluation module (22), the optimized route evaluation module (22) being configured to transmit to the decision module (24), on the basis of said received optimized route proposals and according to a current vehicle context and a predefined confidence domain (20) received by the computer (8), the confidence domain comprising a set of vehicle routes for which the confidence level in the performance model is greater than a predefined minimum confidence level, at least one optimized route proposal associated with vehicle performance values, the decision module (24) being configured to check, according to a predefined configuration (28) stored within the computer (8), whether said at least one optimized route proposal can be issued or not at the output of the computer (8) as an optimized route recommendation,the predefined configuration (28) comprising a calculation of a predefined evaluation criterion, and the decision module (28) verifying whether said optimized route proposal can be issued or not at the output of the calculator (8) as an optimized route recommendation by comparing the evaluation criterion calculated for said optimized route proposal to other evaluation criteria calculated for other optimized route proposals received from the evaluation module (22), said optimized route proposal being issued at the output of the calculator (8) if the evaluation criterion calculated for said proposal corresponds to an optimal criterion value.
9. System (2) for recommending optimized routes for a vehicle, the system (2) comprising a computer (8) intended to be installed on board the vehicle, and a qualification module (6) connected to the computer (8) and capable of being connected to a performance database (10), the computer (8) being according to the preceding claim, the qualification module (6) comprising a data collection sub-module (14), a database (16) and a statistical analysis sub-module (18), the data collection sub-module (14) being configured to receive data relating to past vehicle routes and vehicle performance already achieved, as well as the context of the 18 associated vehicle, the database (16) being linked on the one hand to the data collection sub-module (14) and on the other hand to the statistical analysis sub-module (18), the statistical analysis sub-module (18) being configured to statistically analyze data stored in the database (16) in order to calculate elements of the predefined confidence domain (20).
10. System (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein the qualification module (6) is intended to be embedded in a computer on board the vehicle or in a computer outside the vehicle, or comprises a first part intended to be embedded in a computer on board the vehicle and a second part intended to be embedded in a computer outside the vehicle.
11. System (2) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the system (2) is an open world platform.