Aircraft Ground Trajectory Generation for Taxiing Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft ground rolling systems lack automated trajectory tracking and visual representation, leading to high pilot workload and the risk of aircraft wheels leaving designated airport surfaces during navigation.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that generate a ground trajectory for aircraft by extracting geographical coordinates from airport domain reference points, shaping the trajectory with turns and straight segments, and providing it to user systems for automatic or manual guidance, ensuring the aircraft stays on designated surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual piloting facilities are used for ground rolling, then the pilot can control the aircraft movements, but the pilot workload becomes very significant and automated trajectory tracking cannot be carried out
Solution Approach 1:
The ground rolling process is divided into discrete trajectory elements (straight segments and turns) that can be processed independently. The method segments the airport domain into navigable elements and generates a sequence of geometric instructions that the aircraft can follow automatically, enabling automated trajectory tracking without requiring continuous manual pilot input.
Solution Approach 2:
The trajectory is generated in advance as a sequence of geometric elements (straight segments and turns) with pre-calculated parameters. This preliminary computation of the ground rolling path allows the aircraft system to execute the trajectory automatically without real-time manual intervention, significantly reducing pilot workload while maintaining precise control.
2Loss of information
If only a map and instructions are provided to the pilot, then the trajectory information can be communicated, but the pilot cannot have a visual representation of the trajectory to aid manual guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The method creates a digital copy of the ground trajectory as a sequence of geometric elements that can be displayed visually to the pilot. This digital representation mirrors the actual path the aircraft should follow, providing the pilot with a visual reference that aids manual guidance while preserving complete trajectory information without relying solely on traditional maps and verbal instructions.
3Reliability
If the pilot controls lateral movements manually, then the aircraft can be guided along a ground trajectory, but the risk of aircraft wheels leaving designated airport surfaces exists
Solution Approach 1:
The trajectory generation system dynamically adapts to the specific airport domain geometry and aircraft characteristics. It calculates turns and straight segments based on real-time conditions and airport layout, providing reliable guidance that keeps wheels on designated surfaces while adjusting the trajectory complexity as needed rather than using a fixed rigid path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the generated trajectory is continuously validated against the airport domain constraints. The geometric elements are calculated with built-in verification to ensure they remain within designated surfaces, and the system can adjust the trajectory based on feedback about aircraft position and airport boundaries, enhancing reliability without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and device for generating an aircraft ground path for piloting an aircraft along the ground of an airport domain. Geographical coordinates of reference points corresponding to a series of elements of the airport domain that the aircraft is to successively follow are obtained and converted to a metric frame. Points of intersection of the successive elements are then determined, as well as an auxiliary path for the aircraft to follow, based on the converted geographical coordinates. A turn at each of the intersection points is next determined, and the aircraft ground path is generated from each of the determined turns.