Aircraft Relay Communication for Unavailable Aviation Control Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for initiating aviation operation actions are unreliable, unsafe, inefficient, and cumbersome due to periodic unavailability of communication channels between aircraft and aviation operations control systems, often caused by obstacles and topographical features.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that detect nearby aircraft, determine a relay aircraft using aircraft operations data, and establish a secondary communication channel to enable reliable, safe, and efficient performance of aviation operation actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a direct communication channel is used between aircraft and aviation operations control system, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the reliability deteriorates due to periodic unavailability caused by obstacles and topographical features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay aircraft as an intermediary node between the first aircraft and the aviation operations control system. When the direct communication channel is unavailable, the relay aircraft establishes a secondary communication channel to transmit messages, thereby ensuring communication reliability without requiring complex ground infrastructure modifications.
2Reliability
If a relay aircraft is introduced to ensure communication availability, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection and relay mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects the availability of direct communication channels and autonomously selects relay aircraft when needed. The relay aircraft self-organizes to provide communication services without requiring manual intervention from pilots or ground controllers, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring communication availability.
3Reliability
If direct communication is used, then the system is efficient and quick, but safety deteriorates due to communication failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes relay communication capabilities and continuously monitors direct channel availability. When communication failures are detected, the relay channel is already prepared and can immediately take over, providing a safety cushion against communication failures without requiring complex real-time switching mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are provided herein. For example, a method may include determining that a first communication channel between a first aircraft and an aviation operations control system is unavailable. In some embodiments, the method includes detecting one or more other aircraft using at least one detection operation. In some embodiments, the method includes identifying aircraft operations data associated with the one or more other aircraft. In some embodiments, the method includes determining a relay aircraft from the one or more other aircraft by applying the aircraft operations data to a relay aircraft model. In some embodiments, the method includes causing a second communication channel to be established between the first aircraft and the relay aircraft. In some embodiments, the method includes initiating performance of one or more aviation operation actions using the second communication channel.