Aircraft Instrument Data Replay System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft recording systems fail to reliably reconstruct onboard instrumentation due to low-quality video recordings and high storage requirements, leading to time-consuming and error-prone debriefing processes, especially in training environments where accurate and quick reconstruction is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A recording and replay system that records processed aircraft parameters using a mission computer with an operational flight program, allowing for faithful reconstruction of onboard instruments without video, and includes a mission debriefing system to reproduce the instrumentation based on these parameters, reducing storage needs and improving debriefing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If video recording is used to capture cockpit instrumentation, then visual documentation of instruments is achieved, but storage capacity requirements become excessively high and recording quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential instrument data parameters from the complex video recording, separating the critical instrumentation information from the redundant visual content. This allows storing only the necessary data points (flight parameters, instrument readings) without the bulk video footage, directly resolving the storage capacity issue while preserving documentation quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of copying actual video images of instruments, the system creates digital replicas of instrument data through structured parameter recording. The mission computer generates precise digital representations of instrument states, which can be reconstructed during debriefing without requiring the original video footage, thus eliminating storage constraints.
2Loss of information
If video recording is used to document cockpit instrumentation, then visual records are obtained, but reconstruction becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary organization of instrument data during flight recording, structuring parameters and timestamps as they are captured. This pre-processed data is ready for immediate retrieval and reconstruction during debriefing, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual analysis of video footage and reducing reconstruction errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The mission computer acts as an intermediary between the flight instrumentation and the recording system. It directly interfaces with instrument sensors and processors, capturing data in a structured format that can be easily reconstructed, rather than relying on indirect video documentation that requires manual interpretation and increases error risk.
3Quantity of substance
If only aircraft parameters are recorded for instrument reconstruction, then storage requirements are reduced, but faithful reconstruction of onboard instrumentation becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The mission computer serves multiple functions: it controls flight operations, processes instrument data in real-time, and simultaneously records the data in a reconstruction-ready format. This multi-functionality ensures that the recorded parameters are both storage-efficient and sufficiently detailed for faithful instrument reconstruction, bridging the gap between compact storage and reliable reconstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms raw instrument data into optimized parameter representations that maintain reconstruction fidelity while reducing storage requirements. By changing the data format from verbose video descriptions to structured numerical parameters with precise timestamps, the system achieves both compact storage and reliable reconstruction capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Digital recording and replay system (100) for an aircraft, comprising a Mission Computer (MC) with an Operational Flight Program (OFP) for generating instrument data (ID) for onboard instruments of the aircraft; a Mission Data Recorder (MDR) connected to said Mission Computer (MC) for recording said instrument data (ID); and a Mission Debriefing System (MDS);wherein the Mission Debriefing System (MDS) is configured to reproduce the onboard instruments of the aircraft based on instrument data (ID) retrieved from the Mission Data Recorder (MDR). Method for reproduction of onboard instrumentation of an aircraft, comprising the steps of connecting a Mission Data Recorder (MDR) to a Mission Computer (MC) of an aircraft having an Operational Flight Program (OFP) for generating instrument data (ID) for onboard instruments; recording instrument data (ID); providing a Mission Debrief System (MDS) and causing it to reproduce the onboard instruments of the aircraft based on instrument data (ID) retrieved from the Mission Data Recorder (MDR).