Aircraft Landing Path Planning Under Runway and Waypoint Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air traffic management systems lack an efficient and automated method for generating optimal landing patterns for aircraft, which can lead to increased fuel consumption, longer landing distances, and reduced airport capacity.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a runway selector module, a leg sequencer module, and a pattern planner module that automatically selects a landing waypoint, determines additional waypoints, and generates a landing pattern by optimizing latitude, longitude, and altitude variables subject to location constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If automated path planning is implemented, then fuel consumption is reduced and airport capacity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated path planning system is divided into distinct functional modules: a runway selector module that selects optimal runways, a leg sequencer module that determines the sequence of flight legs, and a pattern planner module that generates the complete landing pattern. This segmentation allows each module to handle specific aspects of path planning independently, reducing overall system complexity while achieving fuel optimization through coordinated operation of the modules
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary path planning computations before aircraft arrival at the airport. The pattern planner module pre-calculates optimal landing patterns based on current airport conditions, weather, and traffic data. This preliminary action allows the system to provide optimized guidance without adding complexity to the real-time control system, as the computationally intensive optimization is completed in advance
2Length of moving object
If optimized landing patterns are generated, then landing distance is minimized, but computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The leg sequencer module dynamically adjusts the sequence of flight legs based on real-time conditions such as wind, traffic, and aircraft performance. Rather than using fixed, pre-programmed patterns, the system adapts the path geometry to minimize landing distance while accounting for current operational constraints. This dynamic approach reduces the need for extensive computational power by using rule-based sequencing rather than full optimization for each scenario
Solution Approach 2:
The pattern planner module optimizes key parameters such as turn radii, descent rates, and waypoint positions to minimize landing distance. By focusing optimization efforts on the most impactful parameters rather than all possible flight path variables, the system achieves significant reductions in landing distance while maintaining manageable computational requirements. The module adjusts these parameters based on aircraft type, weight, and environmental conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes selecting a landing waypoint on a runway and selecting a starting waypoint based on a location/heading of an aircraft relative to the runway. The method includes selecting additional waypoints between the starting waypoint and the landing waypoint. The starting and additional waypoints include latitude, longitude, and altitude variables. A sequence of waypoints from the starting waypoint to the landing waypoint via the additional waypoints indicates a desired location for the aircraft to traverse. The method includes generating location constraints for the starting and additional waypoints and generating an objective function for optimizing at least one of the variables. Additionally, the method includes generating a solution for the objective function subject to the location constraints. The solution includes latitude, longitude, and altitude values for the variables. The method further includes controlling the aircraft to traverse the starting and additional waypoints according to the latitude, longitude, and altitude values.