Aircraft Landscape Camera Clarity Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft landscape cameras struggle to provide a clear view of the landscape when obstructed by clouds or darkness, preventing passengers from viewing the scenery below.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that capture visual data using cameras on the aircraft, compare it to previously captured data, and display the clearer view to the user, even if the current data is obstructed by clouds or darkness, by determining which data set provides better clarity based on factors like lighting, resolution, and obstructions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a camera captures visual data of the landscape below the aircraft, then passengers can view the landscape, but the view is obstructed by clouds or darkness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing reliabilityVSAvoidvisual obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing visual data before the aircraft reaches obstructed areas. The camera system continuously captures landscape images, and the processor compares current images with previously captured ones to identify clearer views that can be displayed to passengers even when clouds or darkness obstruct the current view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates visual copies of the landscape by capturing images with the camera. When the current view is obstructed, the processor identifies and displays previously captured visual data (copies) that provide a clearer view, effectively replacing the obstructed real-time view with a clear historical copy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If the system compares visual data to previously captured data to determine clarity, then the clearer view can be displayed, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual clarity assessmentVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously comparing current visual data with previously captured data. The processor analyzes the comparison results to determine which data provides a clearer view, and this feedback loop enables automatic selection and display of the optimal image without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual visual assessment with automated electronic processing. The processor electronically compares visual data sets, analyzes clarity metrics, and automatically selects the clearer view for display, substituting mechanical or manual evaluation methods with efficient electronic computation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10036634B2X-ray vision aircraft landscape camera

Publication Date: 2018.07.31 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A method for providing visual data of a landscape below an aircraft includes capturing visual data of a landscape below an aircraft, using a camera on the aircraft. The visual data is compared to previously captured visual data of the landscape. It is then determined which of the visual data and the previously captured visual data provides a clearer view of the landscape based upon the comparison. The one of the visual data and the previously captured visual data that is determined to provide the clearer view is then displayed to a user.