Active Voice Tags on Flight Path Displays for ATC Instructions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flight crew members are burdened with recording or memorizing ATC instructions for future maneuvers, increasing workload, as they are often provided in advance and not accessed when needed.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating active voice tags as actuatable graphical elements on a flight path display, dynamically updating based on aircraft state, allowing flight crew to access ATC instructions on demand through manual or automatic actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If ATC instructions are provided in advance to flight crew, then flight crew can prepare for future maneuvers, but flight crew workload increases due to the need to record or memorize instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically capturing and storing ATC instructions in advance, tagging them with relevant flight data. This allows instructions to be prepared beforehand without requiring flight crew to manually record or memorize them, reducing their workload while ensuring readiness for future maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of ATC instructions and stores them in an accessible database. Instead of requiring flight crew to memorize instructions, the system replicates the information in an easily retrievable format that can be accessed on-demand during flight operations.
2Loss of information
If flight crew manually record ATC instructions, then instructions are preserved for future reference, but time and effort are consumed in the recording process
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically capturing, storing, and managing ATC instructions without human intervention. The flight crew does not need to manually record instructions; the system handles the entire process of information retention autonomously, freeing the crew from this time-consuming task.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of recording instructions with an automated electronic system. Instead of flight crew physically writing down or memorizing instructions, the system uses automated data capture and digital storage mechanisms to preserve ATC instructions for future reference.
3Ease of operation
If ATC instructions are made immediately accessible, then flight crew can access information when needed, but instructions may be cluttered with future maneuvers that are not yet relevant
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing different information at different times and locations. ATC instructions are tagged with contextual data and presented to flight crew based on their specific needs and the current flight phase, ensuring that only relevant information is displayed at any given moment rather than all instructions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by making the information display adaptive and changeable. The presentation of ATC instructions dynamically adjusts based on flight progress, crew requests, and operational context, allowing the system to evolve from a static information dump to a dynamic, on-demand information service that reduces complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method on an aircraft for producing active voice tags on a flight path displayed on a graphical display unit is provided. The method comprises: identifying a specific instruction from a received message from ATC; determining, for the specific instruction a location relative to a planned flight path of the aircraft at which the specific instruction should be provided to flight crew; generating, for the specific instruction, a voice message configured to recite the specific instruction; associating with the voice message an actuatable graphical element that is actuatable to cause the voice message to be provided to flight crew; rendering the actuatable graphical element at or near the determined location on a depiction of the planned flight path that is displayed on the graphical display unit; and providing the voice message associated with the actuatable graphical element as an aural message responsive to actuation of the actuatable graphical element.