Aircraft Global Orders for Pilot Workload Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face excessive workload during flight, particularly in complex missions, due to the need to manage multiple aircraft systems and respond quickly to unforeseen events, which can lead to errors and increased stress, necessitating the presence of multiple crew members and complex procedural memory.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that implement 'global orders' – pre-defined sequences of actions that can be automatically or manually initiated, reducing pilot workload by allowing onboard computers to verify feasibility and execute actions based on eligibility and activation conditions, thereby simplifying system control and reducing the need for extensive procedural memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interfaces and systems are provided to enable complex missions, then the versatility and capability of the aircraft are improved, but the pilot's workload and complexity of operation increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-configured global orders that define sequences of actions to be executed automatically. These global orders are prepared in advance and stored in the onboard computer, allowing the aircraft to autonomously perform complex mission sequences without requiring the pilot to manually manage each interface and system individually, thereby reducing workload while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The onboard computer automatically verifies feasibility conditions and executes the command sequences defined in global orders without continuous pilot intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously managing multiple interfaces and systems according to pre-defined protocols, reducing the need for manual pilot operation while maintaining complex mission capabilities
2Ease of operation
If pre-defined global orders with automatic execution are implemented, then the pilot's workload is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and automation level increase
Solution Approach 1:
The onboard computer is designed to perform multiple functions: storing global orders, verifying feasibility conditions, automatically executing command sequences, and interfacing with multiple aircraft systems. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single universal system rather than requiring separate dedicated systems for each function, making the automation more manageable
3Speed
If global orders are automatically selected and executed by the onboard computer, then the speed of response to unforeseen events is improved, but the extent of automation increases which may reduce pilot control
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the flight context and compares it against the conditions defined in stored global orders. When a match is detected, the appropriate global order is automatically activated. This feedback mechanism enables rapid response to changing flight conditions while maintaining a logical decision-making process that can be monitored and interrupted by the pilot if needed
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling subsystems of an aircraft. During a preparation step, at least one global order is stored in a database, each global order including an eligibility condition, and at least one global order including an activation condition, each global order specifying a command sequence comprising at least two actions to be implemented one after another or in parallel by two different members. During an initialization step, an onboard computer determines whether a global order is selected automatically or by a pilot. During an activation step, an onboard computer determines, where appropriate, whether the selected global order is feasible. During an implementation step, and providing the selected global order is feasible, the onboard computer performs the actions specified by the selected global order.