Lightweight Aircraft Movement Corridor Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-altitude lightweight aircraft face challenges in strategic and operational flight planning due to strong weather influences, requiring a system to determine a safe movement corridor while minimizing operational workload and ensuring maneuverability.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising interfaces for receiving aircraft and weather data, a processing unit that compares these data to ascertain a probable movement corridor for lightweight aircraft at high altitudes, and a system that integrates this device with the aircraft for real-time operational planning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If strategic and operational flight planning is performed manually for high-altitude lightweight aircraft, then operational reliability can be maintained through careful monitoring, but operator workload becomes excessively high and response time to weather changes is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidoperator workload
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically monitoring weather conditions, comparing them against flight plan parameters, and generating corridor adjustments without continuous human intervention. The processing unit autonomously evaluates weather data, determines corridor modifications, and transmits commands to the aircraft, allowing the system to serve itself in maintaining safe flight paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where weather data is constantly monitored, compared against planned flight parameters, and used to generate real-time corridor adjustments. This feedback mechanism ensures operational reliability by automatically responding to changing conditions, reducing the need for manual operator intervention while maintaining high safety standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If weather monitoring and flight planning are performed in real-time with high detail, then movement corridor accuracy is improved, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement corridor accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the flight corridor into discrete sections and processes weather data for each segment independently. This allows high-precision monitoring of specific corridor portions without requiring complex processing of the entire flight path simultaneously, maintaining accuracy while managing system complexity through modular data handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining flight corridors and weather thresholds before actual flight operations. This preparation work establishes reference parameters and decision criteria in advance, enabling simpler real-time processing that maintains high accuracy without requiring complex algorithms during critical flight moments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If flight planning allows for dynamic adjustments during flight, then adaptability to weather changes is improved, but operational procedures become more complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to weather changesVSAvoidoperational procedures
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic flight corridor adjustments that automatically adapt to changing weather conditions. The processing unit continuously evaluates weather data and modifies corridor parameters in real-time, enabling the flight plan to be dynamic and responsive without requiring complex manual procedural changes. The system handles the complexity of dynamic adaptation through automated algorithms rather than procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3931812B1Device for ascertaining a movement corridor for lightweight aircraft
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 AALTO HAPS LTD
  • EP3931812B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3931812B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A device (100) is specified for ascertaining a movement corridor for lightweight aircraft (200). The device comprises a first interface (110), a second interface (120), and a processing unit (140). The first interface (110) is configured to receive aircraft data relating to the lightweight aircraft (200), wherein the aircraft data at least contain flight properties and functions of the lightweight aircraft. The second interface (120) is configured to receive weather data from a weather information source (300), wherein the weather data contain weather predictions and also current weather data and contain at least air movements in an altitude profile between a maximum altitude of the lightweight aircraft and the Earth's surface. The processing unit (140) is configured to compare the aircraft data to the weather data and to ascertain a probable movement corridor of the aircraft.