Aircraft Guidance Device Using Reference Aircraft Offset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flight management systems face high computational demands when managing time constraints, particularly for military aircraft, due to iterative calculations required for precise speed adjustments to meet 'Required Time of Arrival' (RTA) constraints, which can be resource-intensive and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines a reference speed and a fictitious reference aircraft to assess spatial deviations along the flight plan, allowing pilots to adjust speed based on distance offsets rather than temporal deviations, reducing computational requirements and providing clear adherence indicators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If iterative calculations are used to calculate optimal speed profile for RTA constraint adherence, then measurement precision of time constraint compliance is improved, but use of energy by moving object increases due to high computational demands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime constraint compliance precisionVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores speed profiles for various scenarios before flight operations. During actual flight, the system simply retrieves and applies pre-computed speed adjustments rather than performing iterative calculations in real-time, significantly reducing computational energy consumption while maintaining precise RTA constraint adherence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a two-stage approach: first applies a simplified speed adjustment based on current deviation from RTA, then optionally refines with larger-step iterative calculations only when necessary. This partial application of full iterative computation reduces energy usage while maintaining sufficient precision for constraint compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If iterative loop calculations are performed continuously to maintain RTA constraint adherence, then reliability of time constraint compliance is improved, but productivity of the flight management system decreases due to high computational load

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRTA constraint adherence reliabilityVSAvoidflight management system efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs speed profile calculations at periodic intervals rather than continuously, updating the optimal speed profile only when significant deviations from RTA are detected or at predetermined checkpoints. This periodic updating maintains reliable constraint adherence while dramatically improving system productivity by reducing computational frequency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

Speed adjustment strategies are pre-computed and stored for various flight conditions. During flight, the system quickly selects and applies the appropriate pre-computed profile based on current conditions, ensuring reliable RTA compliance without the need for continuous iterative calculations, thus maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If temporal deviation calculations are used to inform pilots of constraint status, then measurement precision of constraint adherence is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional calculation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstraint adherence indication precisionVSAvoidcalculation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a fictitious reference aircraft that copies the behavior of the actual aircraft but with perfect RTA adherence. The spatial distance between the real aircraft and this virtual reference aircraft serves as a simplified indicator of constraint compliance, replacing complex temporal deviation calculations with intuitive spatial positioning that requires minimal computation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Ease of operation

If constant speed assumptions are made on flight plan segments, then ease of operation is improved for tactical functions, but measurement precision of optimal speed calculation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactical function execution easeVSAvoidoptimal speed calculation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic speed management that adapts to different flight plan segments. On segments requiring constant speed for tactical operations, the system maintains the prescribed speed while adjusting speeds on other segments to compensate and maintain overall RTA adherence. This dynamic allocation of speed adjustments preserves both operational simplicity for tactical functions and precision for time constraint compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9558671B2Method and a device for aiding the guidance of an aircraft

Publication Date: 2017.01.31 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

Method and device for aiding the guidance of an aircraft having to comply with at least one time constraint. The device can determine and present on a screen of the flight deck an offset in distance (ΔD) between the aircraft (AC) and a reference aircraft (Aref) which is defined to fly along the flight plan (TV) at an optimal speed to comply with the time constraint.