Aircraft Maritime Navigation Aid for Collision Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current navigation aids for aircraft, particularly rotary wing aircraft, lack the ability to effectively detect and account for fixed and mobile maritime objects during approach, hovering, or landing phases, especially in adverse weather conditions or when visual information is limited, leading to potential collisions with obstacles.

Innovation Solution

A navigation aid system equipped with a location device, inertial unit, automatic piloting device, display device, and detection system that includes radar, LIDAR, or camera technology to detect and track maritime objects, estimate their positions and movements, and construct safety envelopes to guide the aircraft safely during flight phases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If visual information is used for navigation during approach and landing, then the pilot can guide the aircraft to the helipad, but visibility is reduced in adverse weather conditions, clouds, smoke, or nighttime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation reliabilityVSAvoidvisibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces detection systems (radar, LIDAR, cameras) as intermediary devices that sense the environment and helipad characteristics, converting physical parameters into electrical signals for processing. These intermediaries enable navigation when direct visual information is insufficient, resolving the contradiction between navigation reliability and visibility conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the purely visual-mechanical navigation method with an electronic detection and processing system. Detection systems capture environmental data, processors analyze helipad characteristics and generate guidance signals, substituting the pilot's direct visual assessment with automated electronic sensing and computation, thereby maintaining navigation reliability under poor visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the aircraft is piloted visually without assistance, then the pilot has direct control, but the inherent movements of the ship or maritime platform due to water movements are difficult to take into account and anticipate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiloting controlVSAvoidmovement information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where detection systems continuously monitor the helipad's position and movements, the processor analyzes this data to determine movement patterns, and guidance signals are generated to compensate for these movements. This closed-loop feedback system provides the pilot with real-time information about platform movements, eliminating the information loss that occurs during manual visual piloting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If detection systems are added to assist navigation, then navigation accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a processor that performs multiple functions: it processes detection system signals, identifies helipad characteristics, determines platform movements, generates guidance signals, and controls display devices. This multi-functional processor reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby improving measurement precision while limiting the increase in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the detection and tracking of maritime objects, allowing for safe execution of approach, hovering, or landing phases by providing real-time positional and movement data, thereby reducing the risk of collisions with obstacles and improving navigation accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLIDAR: LIDAR

Data Source

PatentEP3866136B1Method and system to assist with navigation for an aircraft by detecting maritime objects in order to implement an approach flight, hovering or landing

Publication Date: 2024.03.27 EUROCOPTER FRANCE SA

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and system for assisting the navigation of an aircraft (1) by detecting fixed and moving maritime objects (50). Said aircraft (1) comprises at least one detection system for detecting maritime objects (50), an autopilot device for said aircraft (1), and at least one computer. Said method enables, on the one hand, the detection of fixed and moving maritime objects in the environment of the aircraft (1) and, on the other hand, the automatic execution of an approach flight towards a target point (55) on a selected maritime object (50), a landing on a helipad at sea, or a hover above such a target point (55), taking into account these fixed and moving maritime objects (55) as well as their movements due in particular to the movements of the water surface (100) and waves.