Aircraft Sensor Data Transfer via EFB for Real-Time Flight Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies have not effectively addressed the need for systems that can efficiently collect, analyze, and transmit data recorded by aircraft sensors or other onboard devices, which could improve flight efficiency and provide vital data for regulatory agencies.
Innovation Solution
The system automatically collects, analyzes, and wirelessly transmits sensor data to a portable device like an electronic flight bag (EFB) using a Multi Function Data Acquisition Unit (MFDAU) or Quick Access Recorder (QAR), enabling real-time data processing and encryption before transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless transmission is used to transmit sensor data from aircraft to portable devices, then data transmission efficiency and real-time analysis capability are improved, but device complexity and security requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by integrating the MFDAU/QAR system to perform multiple functions: collecting sensor data from various aircraft systems, analyzing the data in real-time, encrypting it for security, and transmitting it wirelessly to portable devices. This consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated platform, improving data transmission efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a dedicated data acquisition and processing unit (MFDAU/QAR) that acts as a mediator between the aircraft's sensor systems and the portable electronic devices. This intermediary handles the complex tasks of data collection, analysis, encryption, and wireless transmission, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling efficient data transfer
2Productivity
If real-time data analysis and wireless transmission are implemented, then flight management efficiency is improved, but data security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by encrypting the sensor data before it is transmitted wirelessly to the portable device. The encryption process is performed in advance within the MFDAU/QAR system, ensuring that data is secured before any potential security threats can intercept it. This preliminary security measure enables real-time flight management efficiency while mitigating data security risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of wireless transmission vulnerabilities into a benefit by implementing encryption as a standard feature of the data acquisition and transmission system. The encryption mechanism transforms what would be a security weakness into a strength, ensuring that real-time data analysis and transmission capabilities enhance flight management efficiency without compromising data security
3Reliability
If automatic data collection and transmission systems are deployed, then regulatory compliance is improved, but device complexity and initial setup requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the MFDAU/QAR system to automatically collect sensor data from aircraft systems, analyze it in real-time, encrypt it, and transmit it to portable devices without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complex processes of data acquisition, processing, and transmission, ensuring regulatory compliance while minimizing the operational complexity for users
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: data collection from various sensors, real-time analysis, encryption, and wireless transmission are all combined in the MFDAU/QAR platform. This consolidation simplifies the overall system configuration and reduces the complexity of managing multiple separate systems, while ensuring comprehensive regulatory compliance
Data Source
AI summary
Monitoring and reporting methods and apparatus include the acquisition of detailed aircraft state and systems data, analysis of the collected data, and transmission of the collected data and/or analysis of the collected data to a destination automatically via a portable electronic device which is carried onto and off of the aircraft by the pilot or another crew member. More particularly, monitoring and reporting methods and apparatus include collecting analog or digital sensor data onboard an aircraft, analyzing the data in real-time, and automatically transmitting the data and/or analysis of the data to a destination including a portable storage device such as a portable computer, electronic flight bag (EFB), or smart phone, by means such as wireless transmission, for automatic transfer to another destination when the portable computer, electronic flight bag (EFB), or smart phone is off of the aircraft.