Aircraft Guidance Panel GUI for Flight Mode Error Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle guidance systems are prone to mode errors due to complex and counter-intuitive rules, lack of clear communication about future mode changes, and limited information display, leading to pilot misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) for vehicle guidance that displays current and future command values and logics, allowing pilots to better understand and manage vehicle modes, reducing errors by providing informative and anticipatory feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex avionics systems with multiple flight modes are implemented, then vehicle guidance capability is improved, but mode errors increase due to pilot misunderstanding and counter-intuitive rules
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance panel displays real-time feedback about the current flight mode, commanded values, and system state to the pilot. This includes showing the active mode, armed modes, and current command parameters, allowing the pilot to verify system state and understand what the automation is doing, thereby reducing mode errors through situational awareness
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance panel acts as an intermediary between the complex avionics system and the pilot. It translates complex system states into comprehensible visual information, presenting flight modes and command values in a standardized, easy-to-understand format that bridges the gap between sophisticated automation and human operator cognition
2Manufacturing precision
If comprehensive flight mode rules are implemented to govern mode transitions, then vehicle guidance precision is improved, but pilot training complexity increases and rules may be overlooked
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance panel divides complex flight control information into segmented, organized displays showing different aspects separately: current mode, armed modes, commanded values, and system state. This segmentation allows pilots to process information in manageable chunks rather than overwhelming complexity, while comprehensive rules still govern the underlying system behavior
3Device complexity
If existing guidance panels display only current values, then device simplicity is maintained, but future mode changes are not communicated leading to pilot assumptions
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance panel shows commanded values and mode information in advance before they take effect. By displaying what the system is currently commanding and what modes are armed (pending activation), the panel provides preliminary information about future state changes, allowing pilots to anticipate and understand upcoming mode transitions rather than reacting to sudden changes
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for managing vehicle guidance using a GUI. One method may include: obtaining flight management system (FMS) data; updating an aircraft configuration state based on the FMS data; obtaining a current mode, active command, and a second command for a guidance panel based on the configuration state; and generating a guidance panel GUI based on the current mode, the active command, and the second command. Another method may include: obtaining vehicle data; updating a vehicle configuration state based on the vehicle data if the vehicle data has updated information; obtaining a current mode, active command, and a second command for a guidance panel of the vehicle based on the vehicle configuration state; generating a guidance panel GUI based on the current mode, the active command, and the second command; and displaying the guidance panel GUI on the guidance panel.