Dynamic Parameter Enlargement for Aircraft Display Readability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In aircraft cockpits, manually adjusting parameters like local barometric pressure on digital flat panel displays (FPDs) is challenging due to small numeric indications and the need for high attention, increasing the risk of errors, especially in busy or task-overloaded environments where multiple data types are displayed concurrently.
Innovation Solution
The system enlarges the displayed size of the parameter being adjusted and optionally provides a graphical scale, temporarily making it translucent to maintain visibility of other data, allowing pilots to easily verify settings without diverting excessive attention from other tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the numeric indication size is kept small to display multiple parameters on the FPD, then the quantity of displayed information increases, but the ease of operation deteriorates and error risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display dynamically changes the size of parameter indications based on operational context. During manual adjustment operations, the relevant parameter indication enlarges automatically, while other parameters maintain their normal small size. This dynamic resizing allows the interface to adapt between displaying maximum information and providing easy operation, resolving the contradiction between quantity of information and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly enlarging all parameter indications, the system applies local quality enhancement only to the specific parameter being adjusted. The local enlargement focuses the pilot's attention on the critical parameter while maintaining small sizes for other parameters, thus preserving overall information density while improving operational ease for the active parameter.
2Measurement precision
If the pilot devotes special attention to verifying parameter settings, then the measurement precision of parameter input improves, but the loss of time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides immediate visual feedback by enlarging the parameter indication during adjustment and maintaining the enlarged state briefly after adjustment completes. This feedback mechanism confirms the parameter change to the pilot without requiring prolonged attention, thereby maintaining input precision while reducing the time and attention loss associated with verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The display prepares the pilot for accurate input by pre-enlarging the parameter indication before the adjustment operation begins and maintains enlargement during and after the operation. This preliminary and sustained visual emphasis ensures the pilot can accurately input parameters without needing to divert excessive attention or spend additional time verifying settings.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple parameters are displayed concurrently on the FPD, then the adaptability of the display system improves, but the device complexity increases and error risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display system dynamically manages the complexity of displaying multiple parameters by automatically adjusting the size of active parameters during operations. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain high adaptability for displaying various parameters while managing complexity through automated, context-sensitive rendering rather than requiring complex manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system serves itself by automatically identifying which parameter requires adjustment and enlarging its indication without pilot intervention. This self-service capability reduces the complexity of display management by eliminating the need for pilots to manually configure display settings or determine which parameters to emphasize, thereby reducing error risk while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system for highlighting a parameter image representative of a flight parameter of an aircraft to a user in a multi-parameter aircraft instrument display, such as a flat panel display. An electronic instrument display is configured to present parameter images, at least one of which includes a first indicator configured to indicate a specific value (e.g., a target value) for a flight parameter and a second indicator configured to indicate an actual flight parameter value that changes according to variations in the flight parameter. A graphics rendering controller is configured to generate the parameter images and to enlarge a portion of the parameter image when the actual flight parameter value is within a predetermined range from the target value.