Aircraft Runway Excursion Detection With Optical Monitoring and Auto Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft taxiing on pathways at aerodromes are prone to excursions, which pose risks of collision, damage, and interference with airport infrastructure, and existing systems lack effective methods to prevent such deviations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using optical detection and artificial intelligence to monitor the aircraft's position relative to aerodrome pathways, providing warning messages and automatic braking to prevent excursions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical detection and AI monitoring are implemented to detect aircraft position and predict excursions, then safety and excursion prevention are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of aircraft position relative to pathway edges and predicts potential excursions before they occur. By calculating predicted positions based on current trajectory and speed, the system alerts pilots in advance, allowing them to take corrective action before an actual excursion happens, thus improving safety proactively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring system that acts as a mediator between the aircraft's navigation systems and the pilot. This intermediary system processes data from multiple sources (position, speed, trajectory) and provides synthesized information to the pilot, reducing the cognitive load on the pilot while enhancing situational awareness and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If automatic braking intervention is implemented to prevent excursions, then collision risk is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced pilot control
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by providing warnings and alerts to the pilot before an excursion occurs, allowing the pilot to take corrective action voluntarily. Automatic braking is only engaged as a last resort when the pilot fails to respond to warnings, thus preventing harm while preserving pilot control and ease of operation during normal circumstances.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the monitoring unit continuously tracks aircraft position and provides real-time information to the pilot through warnings and alerts. This feedback loop enables the pilot to adjust their actions based on system information, maintaining ease of operation while reducing collision risk through informed decision-making.
3Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of aircraft position and trajectory is performed, then detection precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs monitoring and position calculations at periodic intervals rather than continuously, which reduces energy consumption while maintaining sufficient detection precision. The monitoring unit calculates predicted positions at discrete time points based on current trajectory and speed data, providing accurate excursion detection without the excessive energy demands of continuous real-time calculation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively detects potential excursions and assists pilots in avoiding them through enhanced situational awareness and automatic intervention, reducing the risk of collisions and damage.
Implementation Method 1
a sub-step of capturing images, implemented by an imaging device, for capturing images (in the visible or infrared spectra, for example) from the external environment of the aircraft
Data Source
AI summary
The system for assisting the avoidance of an excursion by an aircraft from a runway or taxiway of an aerodrome includes a unit for monitoring the aerodrome so as to allow the detection, by optical detection, of a characteristic element of a pathway, for determining a current relative position of a landing gear of the aircraft (AC) with respect to the detected characteristic element, and for detecting a future excursion from the pathway of the aerodrome by the aircraft (AC) on the basis of at least this current relative position, and a unit for assisting the implementation of an action for assisting the avoidance of said future excursion. The system is configured for providing assistance to the pilot of the aircraft by improving his awareness of a potential excursion, by warning and/or ground navigation aid messages, and by providing protection of last resort via automatic braking.