Aircraft Ground Obstacle Detection GUI with Area of Unknown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft flight crews face challenges in detecting and avoiding obstacles during ground operations due to limited visibility and potential distractions, which can lead to inadvertent collisions with ground structures or vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A ground obstacle detection system generates a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a graphical representation of detected obstacles and an indication of an area of unknown, along with a zoom function to provide different views of the aircraft and surrounding area, helping the crew to better navigate and avoid obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual surveillance by flight crew is used to detect obstacles, then the system is simple and requires no additional equipment, but the detection capability is limited due to crew distractions and visibility constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of sensors, processors, and display devices that mediate between the physical obstacle environment and the flight crew. This intermediary automatically detects obstacles using sensors, processes the data to determine obstacle locations and areas of unknown, and presents the information through graphical displays, thereby eliminating the need for direct visual surveillance by the crew while maintaining simple operational procedures.
2Loss of information
If a single graphical view is displayed to show obstacle information, then the display is simple and easy to understand, but it cannot provide both overview and detailed information simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical user interface is segmented into multiple independent views that can be displayed simultaneously. Each view serves a specific function: one view shows the aircraft with detected obstacles and areas of unknown, while another view provides a zoomed-in or alternative perspective of the same or different regions. This segmentation allows the crew to see both overview and detailed information without overwhelming the display or requiring complex interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds an additional spatial dimension to the display by showing multiple views of the aircraft and surrounding area simultaneously. Rather than requiring the crew to switch between different display modes or zoom levels, the system presents parallel views that occupy different portions of the display space, allowing comprehensive obstacle information to be visualized in a single glance.
3Reliability
If the display shows only detected obstacles, then the information is clear and focused, but areas that cannot be monitored are not indicated creating safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses different visual indicators to distinguish between detected obstacles and areas of unknown. Detected obstacles are displayed with specific graphical markers, while areas of unknown are indicated using different colors, patterns, or shading. This visual differentiation ensures that the crew can immediately recognize both the presence of obstacles and the limitations of the detection system, maintaining clear and focused information presentation while revealing detection limitations.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a ground obstacle detection system of an aircraft is configured to generate and display a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a graphical representation of a detected obstacle with which the aircraft may collide during a ground operation and an indication of an area of unknown associated with the detected obstacle. Instead of, in addition to, a GUI that includes an indication of an area of unknown associated with an obstacle, in some examples, a ground obstacle detection system to generate a GUI that includes at least two windows that present different views of an aircraft. At least one of the windows may include a graphical representation of an obstacle that may not be visible in the view of another window.