Aircraft Movement Detection for Automatic Flight Event Logging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual tracking of flight start and end times by pilots is cumbersome and prone to errors, which affects the accuracy of flight time calculations and pilot flight hour records.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize telemetry data and scheduled operation data to automatically compute aircraft operating states, including off-block, takeoff, landing, and in-block states, with updates to flight event logs, using systems like ADS-B and SWIM for real-time position and velocity data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pilots manually track flight start and end times, then flight time calculations can be performed, but the process is cumbersome and prone to errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of flight time calculationsVSAvoidpilot burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically computing flight time and operating state data using telemetry and scheduled operation data without requiring pilot intervention. The computing device performs calculations autonomously, eliminating manual tracking while ensuring accurate recording of flight events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of tracking flight times with an automated computational system. Telemetry data from aircraft systems is processed by a computing device that automatically determines operating states and calculates flight times, substituting human effort with electronic data processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual tracking methods are used, then flight hour records can be maintained, but errors are introduced into the data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of pilot flight hour recordsVSAvoidmanual tracking process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring telemetry data and comparing it against scheduled operation data to automatically detect and correct deviations. This closed-loop approach ensures accurate recording of flight events without manual intervention, improving reliability of flight hour records.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If automated computing systems are implemented, then computational efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomputational efficiency for fleet managementVSAvoidautomated system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computing device performs multiple functions including computing operating states, calculating flight times, updating flight event logs, and generating fleet management reports. This multi-functional approach consolidates various computational tasks into a single system, improving productivity while managing complexity through integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260004665A1Aircraft Operational State Detection Based on Aircraft Movement

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 JOBY AERO INC

AI summary

A method for detecting an aircraft operating state includes computing an operating state for the aircraft based on data corresponding to a position and a velocity of the aircraft and data corresponding to a scheduled flight operation for the aircraft. An updated flight event log for the aircraft may be computed based on the operating state for the aircraft.