Aircraft Moving Map Display for Real-Time Flight Path Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aviation systems for displaying flight procedures on moving map displays do not account for real-time environmental, geographic, and airspace conditions, leading to inefficiencies in fuel consumption, time, and operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A system that integrates a flight plan analysis subsystem with a moving map display, using sensors and data sources to calculate and visually differentiate preferred flight paths based on variables like wind speed, terrain, and air traffic, allowing pilots to select routes that minimize fuel consumption, flight time, and operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If generic published procedures are displayed on the moving map display, then the procedure information is available to pilots, but the procedures do not reflect real-time conditions (environmental, geographic, airspace) affecting fuel consumption, time, and operational cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple information sources (published procedures, real-time environmental data, geographic data, airspace conditions) into a single integrated display system. The moving map display merges generic procedure information with dynamic real-time data to present a comprehensive view that reflects actual flight conditions, eliminating the need for pilots to cross-reference multiple separate sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms static published procedures into dynamic displays that update in real-time based on changing conditions. The display adapts to show different procedure information depending on current environmental conditions (wind, temperature), geographic factors (terrain, obstructions), and airspace status (traffic, restrictions), allowing the information to evolve with the flight context.
2Productivity
If pilots follow published procedures without real-time condition analysis, then navigation is simplified, but fuel consumption, flight time, and operational costs increase due to suboptimal routing
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring real-time conditions (environmental, geographic, airspace) and using this information to dynamically adjust and recommend optimal flight procedures. The display provides feedback to pilots about how current conditions affect their flight path, enabling them to make informed decisions that reduce fuel consumption and improve efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters used for procedure selection from static published values to dynamic real-time parameters. By incorporating live data on wind conditions, terrain features, air traffic patterns, and other variables, the system recalculates optimal procedures based on current parameters rather than relying on fixed published routes, thereby improving fuel efficiency and reducing operational costs.
3Ease of operation
If detailed real-time condition data and multiple procedure options are displayed, then pilots can optimize flight paths, but the display complexity and information overload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display applies local quality by presenting different levels of detail in different display regions or contexts. Critical real-time condition information is highlighted or emphasized in specific areas of the moving map display, while less relevant information is shown with reduced prominence. This allows pilots to quickly identify important factors affecting their current flight situation without being overwhelmed by all available data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments information into distinct categories (environmental conditions, geographic features, airspace status, procedure options) and presents them in an organized, modular fashion on the display. This segmentation allows pilots to process information in manageable chunks rather than receiving a single overwhelming data stream, improving ease of operation while maintaining comprehensive information availability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for displaying a flight path navigational procedure includes, but is not limited to, detecting with a position detecting system a current location of the aircraft, obtaining from an electronic storage device a plurality of flight path navigation procedures available for a geographic location, determining with a flight path analysis system a preferred flight path that will be taken by the aircraft, and displaying on a display unit a moving map corresponding with the current location of the aircraft and further displaying a depiction of the plurality of flight path navigation procedures on the moving map. The preferred flight path is displayed with a visual cue that visually differentiates the preferred flight path from the other flight paths of the plurality of flight path navigation procedures.