Aircraft Control Using Voice-to-Data ATC Command Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft control systems rely on voice communication between pilots and air traffic controllers, leading to errors, high workload, and increased costs due to the need for additional communication infrastructure for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or autonomous aircraft.
Innovation Solution
An automatic control system for aircraft that enables communication between the aircraft, a remote pilot station, and an air traffic control tower, using natural language processing (NLP) to convert voice commands into data for efficient control and reducing the need for additional infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If voice communication is used between pilots and air traffic controllers, then control of aircraft can be achieved, but errors during communication occur and workload of pilots and control managers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical voice communication system with an automated data communication system. The aircraft controller automatically transmits flight status data to the air traffic control tower, and control commands are transmitted as structured data rather than voice, eliminating communication errors and reducing workload.
Solution Approach 2:
The aircraft controller performs automatic status reporting and command execution without requiring continuous pilot-controller voice communication. The system serves itself by automatically managing data exchange between the aircraft, remote pilot station, and air traffic control tower.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional communication infrastructure is built for unmanned aerial vehicles or autonomous aircraft, then remote control capability is achieved, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal communication protocol and infrastructure that serves both traditional aircraft with pilots and unmanned/autonomous aircraft. The same data communication network and message formats are used regardless of whether the aircraft has a pilot on board, eliminating the need for separate infrastructure for UAVs.
Solution Approach 2:
The air traffic control tower acts as an intermediary that receives data from all aircraft types and relays control commands through the standardized system. This intermediary approach allows different aircraft types to use the same infrastructure without direct peer-to-peer communication requirements.
3Productivity
If one remote pilot station remotely controls multiple aircraft, then resource utilization improves, but control coordination with air traffic control tower becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into independent modular components: the remote pilot station, individual aircraft controllers, and the air traffic control tower. Each aircraft maintains independent data exchange capabilities, allowing one remote pilot to manage multiple aircraft through a unified interface while each aircraft's control commands are independently processed by the tower.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback loops where the aircraft controller continuously reports status data to both the remote pilot station and the air traffic control tower. This real-time feedback enables the tower to coordinate multiple aircraft controlled by a single remote pilot, ensuring safety and proper separation without increasing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment an aircraft includes a communication device configured to communicate with an air traffic control tower configured to control the aircraft and a remote pilot station configured to remotely control the aircraft and a processor configured to transmit status information of the aircraft to the air traffic control tower, to control the communication device to convert a voice command received from the air traffic control tower into a command keyword to transmit to the remote pilot station and to perform control based on an instruction received from the remote pilot station.