Aircraft Envelope Display Reducing Navigation Clutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft navigation systems require operators to consult multiple sources and displays, leading to increased workload and decision-making time due to cluttered information, making it difficult to identify safe and efficient flight routes amidst dynamically changing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that display an 'envelope' on an aeronautical chart, defining a flyable space that meets specific objectives such as fuel reserves, risk, and legal constraints, reducing the need to view non-flyable areas and simplifying decision-making by highlighting only relevant information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple information sources and displays are used for aircraft navigation, then comprehensive flight information is available, but operator workload and decision-making time increase due to information clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and highlights only the most critical flight information (envelope boundaries defining flyable spaces) from the comprehensive data available in multiple sources, presenting it prominently on the display while minimizing clutter from less important information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple information sources (aeronautical charts, weather data, traffic information, fuel calculations) into a single integrated display that presents synthesized flight planning information in a unified envelope visualization, reducing the need for operators to consult separate displays
2Loss of information
If comprehensive aeronautical information is displayed on the navigation display, then all necessary flight data is visible, but the display becomes cluttered and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex aeronautical information into distinct visual elements: the envelope boundaries represent flyable space constraints, internal patterns indicate weather or traffic conditions, and overlay graphics show flight planning parameters, making the display more interpretable despite maintaining information completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different visual qualities to different regions of the display - the envelope boundaries are prominently highlighted with distinct colors or patterns, while background information is rendered at lower opacity or simplified detail levels, directing operator attention to critical areas without eliminating comprehensive information
3Measurement precision
If operators manually process and monitor dynamic flight conditions, then detailed analysis is possible, but time and attention required for decision-making increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of flight conditions by pre-calculating envelope boundaries based on fuel reserves, weather data, and traffic information before the operator needs to make decisions, so that when conditions change, the operator can quickly reference pre-computed visualizations rather than performing complex analyses in real-time
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for displaying information for an aircraft. Information is identified for the aircraft. An aeronautical chart is displayed on a display system. An envelope is displayed in the aeronautical chart based on the information. The envelope defines a space flyable by the aircraft that meets a number of objectives.