Aircraft Piloting Aid Predicting Path With Wind Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft piloting methods, such as heading, track, or flight plan modes, are inadequate for automatically acquiring flight paths like in-flight refueling or approach paths while adhering to roll instructions, as they fail to account for variable factors like wind and speed effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that automatically generate a roll instruction for an aircraft, measure current flight and wind characteristics, calculate a predicted path with a constant roll angle, and integrate wind effects to provide a precise flight path that accounts for wind influences, which can be displayed or used by an autopilot for assisted piloting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If usual autopilot piloting modes (heading, track, or flight plan) are used, then the aircraft can be controlled to follow a path, but the final position cannot be accurately predicted when joining flight paths due to variable factors like wind and roll rate
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates a predicted path in advance that incorporates wind effects and roll rate constraints. This preliminary calculation allows the pilot to see the expected final position before executing the maneuver, enabling better planning and execution of flight path joining operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the pilot by displaying the predicted path and final position on the flight display unit. This feedback loop allows the pilot to adjust the roll instruction if needed, creating a closed-loop control system that improves position prediction accuracy.
2Productivity
If flight plan modification is performed to carry out piloting according to a flight plan, then the path can be defined with respect to ground beacons or GPS coordinates, but the process requires large amount of manipulation and is not reactive (several seconds elapse before instruction is taken into account)
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential elements needed for flight path joining (roll instruction, wind data, current flight parameters) and calculates the predicted path directly, bypassing the complex flight plan modification process. This extraction approach eliminates unnecessary manipulation steps while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of the predicted path based on current flight parameters and wind data, providing immediate guidance to the pilot without requiring time-consuming flight plan modifications. This preliminary action enables rapid response to flight path joining requirements.
3Reliability
If roll rate is kept within maximum roll limit during flight path acquisition, then structural and comfort limits are respected, but the ability to quickly acquire the flight path is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically calculates the predicted path based on the actual roll instruction given by the pilot, taking into account wind effects and roll rate constraints. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize the balance between structural/comfort limits and acquisition speed for each specific maneuver.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the pilot about the predicted path and final position, allowing the pilot to adjust the roll instruction to achieve the desired balance between compliance with limits and acquisition speed. This feedback mechanism enables adaptive control.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and device for assisting the piloting of an aircraft.The device (1) comprises means (4) for determining, using a roll instruction and measured current values of external characteristics and of flight characteristics of the aircraft, a predicted path which is a flight path having a constant roll angel, taking account of the effect of the wind.