Aircraft Spacing Control via Auto-Throttle and Vertical Profile Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight deck tools lack the capability to assist flight crews in achieving and maintaining required spacing from a lead aircraft in an ADS-B environment while maintaining a vertical flight path, which is essential for efficient air traffic management and airspace capacity.
Innovation Solution
An on-board system for aircraft that includes a receiver for information about a lead aircraft, a processor to determine spacing, and an auto-throttle module to automatically control throttle settings to maintain spacing and vertical profile, enabling an automatic spacing mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If flight crews manually manage spacing and vertical path, then flexibility and control are maintained, but workload increases and spacing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic spacing management where the aircraft's own systems (auto-throttle, FMS) perform the spacing maintenance function without continuous pilot intervention. The spacing application automatically calculates required speed adjustments and coordinates with existing aircraft systems to maintain precise spacing from the lead aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual pilot operations with an automated electronic system. The spacing application uses computer processing to calculate spacing parameters and automatically controls the auto-throttle system, substituting manual mechanical control with automated electronic control systems.
2Measurement precision
If automatic spacing mode is implemented, then spacing precision and vertical path maintenance improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing application leverages existing multi-functional aircraft systems (FMS for navigation, auto-throttle for speed control, GPS for position data) rather than requiring dedicated new hardware. By making these existing systems work together in an integrated automated spacing function, the patent avoids adding significant device complexity while achieving precise spacing control.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing application acts as an intermediary software layer that coordinates between the pilot, existing aircraft systems (FMS, auto-throttle), and ADS-B data. This intermediary application integrates multiple functions without requiring complex hardware modifications, managing the interaction between different subsystems through software coordination.
3Productivity
If manual spacing management is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but airspace capacity and fuel efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously receives ADS-B data about the lead aircraft's position and automatically adjusts speed to maintain precise spacing. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables accurate spacing control that increases airspace capacity, allowing aircraft to operate closer together safely while maintaining required separation standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual spacing management with automated electronic control systems (spacing application coordinating with auto-throttle and FMS). This substitution enables more precise and consistent spacing control that improves airspace utilization and fuel efficiency without requiring complex additional hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for achieving and maintaining spacing between aircraft may include receiving by a following aircraft information related to a lead aircraft. The information is useable for achieving and maintaining spacing by the following aircraft from the lead aircraft. The method may also include determining spacing of the following aircraft from the lead aircraft. The method may additionally include receiving by the following aircraft a vertical profile for the traffic management environment. The method may further include automatically controlling throttle settings to achieve and maintain spacing by the following aircraft from the lead aircraft while maintaining the vertical profile of the following aircraft in response to an automatic spacing mode being enabled.