Adaptive Ground Safety Lighting Using Edge Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ground safety systems for aircraft are limited by their reliance on published information and lack adaptability to real-time environmental and aircraft factors, resulting in reduced accuracy and effectiveness during ground procedures.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive ground safety lighting system utilizing connected lighting edge nodes with temperature and wind sensors, a controller, and cockpit data to generate a caution volume around the aircraft engine, providing intuitive and context-based visual cues for ground staff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If published ground safety procedures are used, then ground staff can follow standardized procedures, but the system lacks adaptability to real-time environmental and aircraft factors
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system automatically adjusts its operation based on real-time sensor data from the aircraft and environment. The controller autonomously determines when to activate ground safety lighting by evaluating engine temperature, wind speed, and other parameters without requiring manual intervention, enabling the system to serve itself in adapting to changing conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors engine temperature, wind speed, and other environmental parameters through sensors, feeding this data back to the controller which adjusts lighting activation accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables real-time adaptability while maintaining standardized operational protocols
2Measurement precision
If real-time sensor data is collected from multiple edge nodes, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft surface is divided into multiple segments with lighting edge nodes distributed at different locations. Each node independently collects local environmental data (temperature, wind speed), and the controller integrates these segmented measurements to construct a comprehensive environmental map, improving measurement precision through spatial distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting edge nodes serve multiple functions: they provide ground safety illumination and simultaneously act as sensor nodes for collecting environmental data. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by combining lighting and sensing capabilities in single distributed units
3Reliability
If caution volume is dynamically generated based on engine temperature and environmental factors, then safety accuracy is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the caution volume parameters based on changing engine temperature and environmental conditions. As engine temperature decreases over time, the caution volume is automatically reduced in size, providing accurate safety zones that adapt to real-time thermal conditions without requiring complex predictive models
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes the relationship between engine temperature, wind speed, and caution volume dimensions through programmed algorithms. When real-time data is received, the controller applies these pre-defined relationships to quickly calculate safe distances, avoiding complex real-time simulations while maintaining safety accuracy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances safety and accuracy by providing real-time adaptive visual alerts based on environmental and engine data, improving ground maintenance activities without requiring additional instrumentation.
Implementation Method 1
each connected lighting edge node of the plurality of connected lighting edge nodes comprising a light head, a transceiver, a temperature sensor, and a wind sensor
Implementation Method 2
each connected lighting edge node of the plurality of connected lighting edge nodes comprising a light head, a transceiver, a temperature sensor, and a wind sensor
Implementation Method 3
command the plurality of lighting edge nodes to illuminate in accordance with the caution volume and color
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are technologically improved adaptive ground safety lighting systems and related methods. The method includes receiving cockpit data providing a weight on wheels (WOW) indicator, an off-runway indicator, an engine off indicator, and an engine temperature, and receiving, from a connected-light assembly comprising a plurality of connected lighting edge nodes, a respective temperature measurement and wind measurement. Upon determining that there is a concurrent occurrence of (a) WOW indicator asserted, (b) off-runway indicator asserted, and (c) engine off indicator asserted, an environmental map around the aircraft is constructed, and a dissipation timer is started. A caution volume surrounding the engine is generated based on the heat dissipation factor of the engine and other received data, and the plurality of lighting edge nodes are illuminated in accordance with the caution volume.