Aircraft Display Pointer for Laser Designator Line of Sight
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face difficulty in understanding how to maneuver an aircraft to avoid obscuring the line of sight of a laser designator pod and staying within its operational angle range, making it challenging to control laser-guided ammunition effectively.
Innovation Solution
A display device that presents a pointer extending from a circle, where the pointer's length represents the deflection angle of the pointing axis relative to the longitudinal axis, and its angular direction indicates the pitch of the axis in a vehicle coordinate system, providing intuitive guidance on vehicle movement to maintain the line of sight and avoid operational range limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional display shows a symbol on the right or left side to indicate pod direction, then the display is simple, but the pilot cannot intuitively understand how to maneuver the aircraft to avoid obscuring the line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the conventional 2D symbolic display into a 3D spherical coordinate system visualization. The pointer's length represents the deflection angle (radial dimension) while its angular direction represents the pitch angle (angular dimension), creating a dimensional transformation that intuitively conveys spatial relationships and maneuvering requirements to the pilot.
Solution Approach 2:
The display device provides preliminary visual guidance by showing the pointer's length and direction before the pilot executes maneuvers. This allows the pilot to anticipate the required aircraft movements to maintain the designator within the operational angle range and avoid obscuration, rather than reacting to symbolic indicators after the fact.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the designator axis is deflected to expand the operational field of view, then the coverage area increases, but the risk of obscuration by the aircraft body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display device provides continuous visual feedback to the pilot about the designator's angular position and deflection angle. The pointer's length and direction change in real-time, informing the pilot whether the designator is approaching obscuration zones and guiding corrective maneuvers to maintain optimal positioning within the operational angle range.
Solution Approach 2:
The display dynamically adapts to the aircraft's movement and designator's angular position. As the pilot maneuvers the aircraft or the designator rotates, the pointer's length and angular direction update continuously, providing real-time guidance for maintaining the designator within the operational range while accounting for the dynamic relationship between aircraft attitude and obscuration risks.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a display device (511) for presentation of a direction of a pointing axis of a designator and/or sensor unit having a longitudinal axis. The designator and/or sensor unit is mountable on a vehicle (101). The display device is arranged to display a pointer (512) extending from a centre (513) of a circle. The length of the pointer corresponds to a deflection angle (b) of the pointing axis relative to the longitudinal axis, and an angular direction of the pointer corresponding to a true direction in which the pointing axis is pitched.