Aircraft Course Estimation via Trajectory Function Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft course estimation methods are not robust to measurement errors and extrinsic factors like wind variation, leading to inaccuracies due to noisy signals and path oscillations.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves receiving a time series of location data to define a trajectory function representing the aircraft's path, fitting this function to the data, and estimating the course as the tangent of the trajectory function, allowing for selection of the best-fitting path function based on error criteria and Earth model parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional tangent-based course estimation is used, then the method is simple to implement, but measurement errors and wind variation cause inaccuracies in course estimation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by fitting a trajectory function to the aircraft's path before calculating the course. Instead of directly differentiating noisy position data, the method first establishes a smooth trajectory model that represents the intended path, then derives the course from this model. This preliminary modeling step filters out measurement errors and wind-induced oscillations, providing accurate course estimation while maintaining computational efficiency.
2Reliability
If a trajectory function is fitted to the time series data, then robustness to measurement error and wind variation is improved, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by selecting and fitting appropriate trajectory functions (such as polynomials or splines) to the aircraft's path data. By changing the mathematical representation from raw discrete positions to a continuous parametric trajectory model, the system achieves robustness against measurement errors and wind variation. The fitting process optimizes parameters to minimize error, providing reliable course estimation while managing computational complexity through efficient curve fitting algorithms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of estimating a course of an aircraft comprises the steps of: receiving a time series of location data indicating a plurality of locations along a route take by the aircraft, defining a trajectory function for representing a path of an aircraft, fitting the trajectory function to at least a portion of the time series, defining a position that identifies a location of the aircraft along the route, projecting the defined position onto the trajectory function; and estimating the course as the tangent of the trajectory function at the projected position.