SYSTEM FOR DETERMINATION OF OPTIMAL TRAVEL PATH IN A MULTIDIMENSIONAL SPACE

The present automated vehicle travel path determination system which computes a travel path for a vehicle from an origination point to a destination point based on the operating characteristics of the vehicle as well as phenomena extant in the multidimensional space, which phenomena have an impact on the cost of operation of the vehicle. This vehicle travel path determination system can concurrently consider a plurality of vehicle operating characteristics in selecting the travel path. The travel path is optimized for a weighted selection of a number of cost factors, which weighted selection represents a desired combination of cost factors for the operation of this particular vehicle. This vehicle travel path determination system also considers the time varying nature of the phenomena that exist within the multidimensional space and the impact these time varying phenomena have on the vehicle as it traverses the travel path. The present automated vehicle travel path determination system is disclosed as a flight path calculation system for aircraft, although the concepts of this system are applicable to any form of vehicle travel.