3D Aircraft Flight Path Planning Under Dynamic Flight Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous aircraft face challenges in navigating through dynamic flight environments with unknown or changing flight constraints, such as no-fly zones, air traffic control regulations, and topographical restrictions, especially during unexpected landing scenarios where real-time data is unavailable, and human intervention is not possible.
Innovation Solution
A computerized method and system that autonomously generates a flight path by processing flight constraints data to determine restricted areas, calculate alternative paths, and select a preferred route, using processing circuitry to guide the aircraft safely to a target destination while avoiding violations of flight constraints, including 2D and 3D restrictions and topographical obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the aircraft follows a direct flight path to the destination, then the flight time is minimized, but the aircraft may violate flight constraints such as no-fly zones or altitude restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flight path into multiple sections by identifying restricted areas along the direct path and calculating alternative sections that circumvent these areas. The flight path is divided into first, second, and third sections, where the second section provides an alternative route around restricted areas, allowing the aircraft to maintain constraint compliance while minimizing deviation from the optimal path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (altitude) to resolve horizontal flight constraints. When a direct horizontal path is blocked by restricted areas, the system calculates whether the aircraft can traverse these areas at different altitude levels. By changing the vertical dimension, the aircraft can pass through areas that would otherwise be restricted in the horizontal plane, thus maintaining a more direct overall path.
2Reliability
If the aircraft calculates and follows alternative paths to avoid restricted areas, then constraint compliance is maintained, but the flight path becomes more complex and longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic flight path calculation system that adapts to real-time conditions. The system continuously monitors the aircraft's current position, predicted altitude, and upcoming restricted areas, then dynamically adjusts the flight path by selecting from pre-calculated alternative sections. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain simple paths when possible and only introduce complexity when necessary to avoid restricted areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters such as altitude and horizontal position to navigate around restricted areas. The system calculates predicted altitude at different points along the flight path and uses this information to determine whether vertical parameter changes can allow passage through or around restricted areas. By strategically changing these parameters only when necessary, the system minimizes overall path complexity.
3Loss of time
If the aircraft uses predicted altitude calculations to determine path feasibility, then faster navigation decisions are made, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculations of predicted altitude at multiple future points along the flight path before the aircraft actually reaches these points. By pre-calculating whether the aircraft will be at safe altitudes when passing near restricted areas, the system can make faster real-time decisions without requiring high-precision measurements at every moment. The preliminary action of calculating predicted altitude trajectories allows for proactive path planning.
4Loss of time
If the aircraft autonomously determines flight paths without human intervention, then response time during emergencies is reduced, but the system must handle all decision-making complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service autonomous navigation system where the aircraft independently determines its own flight path without external human intervention. The system uses onboard processors to calculate predicted altitude, identify restricted areas, and generate alternative flight paths autonomously. This self-service capability allows the aircraft to immediately respond to emergencies or changing conditions without waiting for ground control instructions, significantly reducing response time while managing decision-making complexity through automated algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the presently discloses subject matter, a flight path is autonomously generated (e.g. in response to an unexpected need to land the aircraft) leading the aircraft from its current position towards a target destination (e.g. a landing site) where the flight path is generated while taking into consideration flight constraints existing in the area and avoiding violation of the flight constraints. The flight path is then used for autonomous generation of flight instructions for controlling the aircraft and leading the aircraft to the desired destination.