Aircraft Exterior Lighting Control Using Camera-Based Situational Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft lighting control systems require manual pilot intervention, leading to increased workload and potential errors due to the need for pilots to manually adjust external aircraft lights based on various conditions, which can affect visibility and safety.
Innovation Solution
An automatic aircraft lighting control system that utilizes imaging data from external cameras and aircraft systems to autonomously control external lights, including a control module with situational awareness and image processing modules to determine light activation/deactivation based on weather, flight phase, and other factors, with pilot override options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pilot control is used for external aircraft lights, then pilots can directly control lighting based on their judgment, but pilot workload increases and potential for errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft lighting system automatically controls external lights based on sensor data from cameras, light sensors, and aircraft systems without requiring pilot intervention. The control module autonomously determines when to activate or deactivate lights based on environmental conditions, flight phase, and visibility requirements, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual pilot operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical control system with an automated electronic control system. Instead of pilots manually switching lights on and off, the system uses image processing modules, situational awareness algorithms, and automated control logic to determine lighting requirements and activate appropriate external lights based on detected conditions.
2Reliability
If automated lighting control is implemented, then pilot workload is reduced and errors are minimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control module serves multiple functions: it processes data from multiple sensors (cameras, light sensors, aircraft systems), determines flight phase, assesses environmental conditions, and controls multiple types of external lights. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional control module, the system achieves automation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control module that acts as a mediator between the sensors and the external lights. This control module processes information from various sources, makes decisions about lighting requirements, and executes control actions, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while achieving automated lighting control.
3Illumination intensity
If external aircraft lights are kept on continuously, then visibility is maximized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time conditions. Instead of continuous operation, the control module continuously monitors environmental conditions, flight phase, and visibility requirements, activating or deactivating lights as needed. This dynamic control ensures lights are on only when necessary for visibility, reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors (cameras, light sensors, aircraft systems) to continuously monitor environmental conditions and adjust lighting accordingly. The control module receives feedback about current visibility conditions and flight phase, and uses this information to make real-time decisions about whether external lights should be activated, ensuring energy is used only when visibility requirements demand it.
Data Source
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AI summary
An automatic aircraft lighting control system can include a control module. The control module can be configured to receive imaging data from one or more cameras (106) operatively associated with the aircraft and automatically control external aircraft lights (108) based on the imaging data.