Aircraft Lighting Controller Automates External Lights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft pilots face a high task load during takeoff, landing, and taxiing due to the complexity of managing various external light systems, which can lead to reduced visibility and increased pilot distraction from inappropriate lighting.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft lighting system with a controller that determines the operational state of the aircraft and automatically activates, deactivates, or adjusts the brightness of various lights, such as taxi, takeoff, landing, and logo lights, using sensors and data sources to optimize visibility and reduce pilot workload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pilot manually manages various external light systems during taxiing, takeoff, and landing, then the lighting can be controlled, but the pilot task load increases and visibility may be reduced due to distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system automatically determines the aircraft operational state using sensors and data sources, then autonomously controls the activation and configuration of appropriate lights without requiring manual pilot input. The system serves itself by monitoring its own operational context and adjusting lighting accordingly, eliminating the burden of manual management while ensuring appropriate visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors aircraft operational state through multiple sensors and data sources, using this feedback to dynamically adjust lighting configuration. This closed-loop control ensures the lighting system responds appropriately to changing operational conditions, maintaining optimal visibility while reducing pilot workload.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple external lights are activated simultaneously, then visibility is improved, but inappropriate lighting may cause pilot distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates specific lights based on the local operational context of the aircraft. Different lighting configurations are applied to different operational states (taxiing, takeoff, landing, in-flight), ensuring that only the appropriate lights for the current situation are activated. This localized approach to lighting control provides necessary visibility without causing pilot distraction from inappropriate lighting.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pilot manually switches on and off various external lights during operational stages, then lighting control is achieved, but the complexity of aircraft systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it determines aircraft operational state, selects appropriate lighting configurations, controls light activation, and monitors operational parameters. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate manual controls for each light and operational stage, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability across different operational conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A light system for an aircraft is provided. A light system may include a sensor (90) and a first aircraft light (22). A controller (110) may be coupled to the sensor and the first aircraft light and may perform operations including receiving data from the sensor, determining a status of the aircraft based on the data, and controlling the first aircraft light based on the status of the aircraft. The first aircraft light may include an external aircraft light and the operations may further include at least one of activating or deactivating the external aircraft light based on the status of the aircraft.