Aircraft Hovering Obstacle Display for Watchman-Free Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft hovering systems require a watchman on board to monitor obstacles, reducing the capacity for rescue personnel and cargo, and there is a need for the pilot to accurately recognize obstacles without such assistance.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft hovering work support system that includes a detecting portion to identify potential obstacles, a data processing portion to generate schematic image data, and a display portion to show the obstacle state, utilizing avionics data for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a watchman gets on the aircraft to monitor obstacles during hovering, then obstacle monitoring capability is improved, but the capacity for rescue staff and cargo decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human visual monitoring (watchman) with an automated sensor system. Sensors detect obstacles and the control unit processes this data to generate visual information displayed to the pilot, eliminating the need for a human watchman while maintaining obstacle monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The aircraft system performs self-monitoring for obstacles through integrated sensors and control units. The system automatically detects, processes, and displays obstacle information without requiring external human assistance, enabling the aircraft to service its own safety monitoring function.
2Reliability
If a watchman gets on the aircraft to monitor obstacles, then obstacle recognition is improved, but the pilot's workload increases due to communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the communication-based coordination system (pilot-watchman verbal communication) with a direct visual information transfer system. The control unit processes sensor data and directly displays obstacle information on a display unit, eliminating the need for verbal communication and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit and display unit serve as intermediaries between the sensors and the pilot. Instead of direct pilot-watchman communication, the system uses automated information processing and visual display to transfer obstacle information, simplifying the interaction mechanism.
3Reliability
If sensors are arranged to surround the drive shaft for 360-degree monitoring, then obstacle detection coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it processes data from sensors arranged around the drive shaft, determines obstacle positions, calculates distances, and generates display information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive 360-degree monitoring capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A support system (10A) is mounted on an aircraft capable of hovering. The support system (10A) includes: a detecting portion (12) provided outside an airframe (31) and configured to detect a target object that may become an obstacle; an imaging portion (14) configured to take an image of surroundings of the aircraft; a data processing portion (11); a display portion (13); and the like. The data processing portion (11) acquires data from the detecting portion (12) and an avionics system (21). The data processing portion (11) uses the acquired data to generate target object schematic image data indicating approach of the target object or possibility of the approach of the target object and outputs the target object schematic image data to the display portion (13). The display portion (13) displays an obstacle state display image based on the target object schematic image data, the obstacle state display image schematically showing a state of the obstacle around the aircraft.