Aircraft Sensor Calibration via Touch Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current avionics systems require cumbersome operations for calibrating aircraft position by including or excluding sensors, lacking real-time visual feedback and intuitive interaction.
Innovation Solution
A touch-enabled system with a display unit that allows direct selection of onboard sensors, providing immediate visual feedback through a user interface layout that includes symbols for GPS, IRS, NAV, and FMS sensors, enabling intuitive calibration and real-time data updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional user input devices and multi-window navigation are used for sensor calibration, then sensor calibration functionality is achieved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple calibration windows and operational steps into a single integrated touchscreen interface. The first window displaying sensor positions and the second window displaying calibration parameters are merged into one interactive display where pilots can directly touch and select sensors, eliminating the need to navigate between multiple windows and reducing calibration time while maintaining full calibration functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchscreen display acts as an intermediary between the pilot and the calibration system. Instead of using traditional input devices like keyboards or switches, the pilot directly interacts with visual representations of sensors on the touchscreen, which then translates these touches into calibration commands. This intermediary interface simplifies the interaction model and reduces operational complexity.
2Ease of operation
If traditional text-based windows are used for sensor selection, then sensor identification is possible, but cognitive processing load increases due to mental translation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the aircraft's sensor layout on the touchscreen display. Instead of presenting abstract text identifiers, the system displays graphical representations that mirror the actual spatial arrangement of sensors on the aircraft. Pilots can directly perceive spatial relationships between sensors and the aircraft position without needing to mentally translate text codes, reducing cognitive load while preserving all spatial information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional text-based sensor identification to a two-dimensional graphical representation that preserves spatial relationships. By displaying sensors in their actual spatial configuration relative to the aircraft on the touchscreen, the system adds a visual dimension that makes spatial relationships immediately apparent without requiring mental processing.
3Loss of information
If multiple separate windows are used for calibration display, then comprehensive calibration information is provided, but interface complexity and navigation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple calibration windows into a single comprehensive touchscreen interface. The first window showing sensor positions, the second window showing calibration parameters, and the interaction mechanisms are all combined into one integrated display. This single interface presents all calibration information simultaneously and allows direct manipulation, reducing interface complexity while maintaining complete calibration functionality and information visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for calibrating aircraft position by providing touch-enabled selection of onboard sensors on an aircraft. The method includes receiving sensor map location information for onboard sensors including N position computers, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, an inertial reference system (IRS) sensor, and a radio navigation (NAV) sensor; receiving sensor data from the onboard sensors, and configuring a user interface layout for the touch display unit presenting the onboard sensors using symbols at respective locations. Embodiments depict the sensors with intuitive symbols and provide a terrain layout in the background. The method includes interpreting a touch input from the touch-enabled display unit to select a position computer and an onboard sensor, and to calibrate the selected position computer with the selected onboard sensor and update the user interface layout to reflect the calibration, responsive to the touch input.