Aircraft Navigation Aid Instrument for Solar-Powered Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to provide a navigation aid instrument for pilots of solar-powered aircraft like Solar Impulse, which is extremely light and sensitive to crosswinds, making it difficult to assess the angle of approach and wing inclination during landing, as conventional instruments do not offer sufficient precision or power for trajectory correction.
Innovation Solution
A navigation aid instrument featuring a row of light-emitting diodes or liquid crystal displays that provide precise indications of the aircraft's direction relative to the ground, wing inclination, and drift angle, with adjustable alerts and visual-sensory feedback to assist pilots in maintaining a stable approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the aircraft is made extremely light with large wingspan to be powered by solar energy, then energy autonomy is improved, but sensitivity to crosswinds and difficulty in trajectory correction worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a navigation aid instrument that provides real-time visual feedback to the pilot through a display device showing a mobile marker indicating the angle of approach and wing inclination. This feedback loop allows the pilot to continuously monitor and make precise corrections to the aircraft's trajectory and attitude during the critical final approach phase, compensating for the aircraft's limited maneuverability due to its light weight and large wingspan.
2Device complexity
If conventional navigation instruments are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision of angle of approach and wing inclination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation aid instrument divides the display into distinct visual elements: a central reference marker and a mobile marker that moves independently to indicate deviations in angle of approach and wing inclination. This segmentation allows the pilot to quickly perceive precise angular measurements without being overwhelmed by complex instrument panels, maintaining simplicity while achieving high measurement precision.
3Device complexity
If the pilot must manually assess wing inclination visually, then instrument complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system consisting of sensors that detect the actual wing inclination and a processing system that translates this data into visual representations on the display device. This intermediary system acts as a mediator between the physical wing position and the pilot's perception, providing accurate and reliable inclination data without requiring the pilot to perform complex visual assessments.
4Reliability
If the pilot focuses on multiple approach parameters simultaneously, then comprehensive control is improved, but pilot workload and response time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation aid instrument merges multiple critical approach parameters—angle of approach and wing inclination—into a single integrated display device with a unified visual interface. The mobile marker simultaneously encodes both parameters, allowing the pilot to monitor and control multiple aspects of the approach in one glance, thereby maintaining comprehensive control while reducing cognitive load and response time.
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 pilots to accurately assess and correct the aircraft's direction and wing angle during landing, reducing pilot workload and enhancing safety by providing clear, precise information on the aircraft's state, even in low-light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A navigation aid instrument featuring a row of light-emitting diodes or liquid crystal displays that provide precise indications of the aircraft's direction relative to the ground, wing inclination, and drift angle
Implementation Method 2
A navigation aid instrument featuring a row of light-emitting diodes or liquid crystal displays that provide precise indications of the aircraft's direction relative to the ground, wing inclination, and drift angle
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a navigation assistance instrument for an aircraft pilot, including: a first display means (R3) extending horizontally, the centre of the display means marking the longitudinal axis (X) of the aircraft; a mobile marker capable of moving on either side of the centre of the first display device (R3) and indicating the flight direction of the aircraft relative to the ground, wherein the mobile marker is as spaced apart from the centre of the display device (R3) as the aircraft is offset relative to the rectilinear flight route; and/or two left (R2) and right (R1) display devices extending vertically at a distance from each other for indicating the inclination angle of the aircraft wings relative to the horizontal on the left side or right side of the aircraft, respectively; wherein a mobile marker is capable of moving either along the left display device (R2) or along the right display device (R1) so as to indicate to the pilot on which side the aircraft is rolling, the inclination value increasing as the mobile marker is spaced apart from the top of the left (R2) or right (R1) display device in question.