Aircraft Surface Data Generation Using Segmented Terrain Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
The combination of TAWS and ARINC 816 databases for generating egocentric, three-dimensional perspective images in aircraft display systems results in a loss of surface features due to differing elevation data sources, with TAWS providing terrain with multiple elevations and ARINC 816 providing a single elevation value, leading to inaccurate terrain representation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that modify terrain data from one source with surface feature data from another to generate a three-dimensional perspective image without losing surface features, using a navigation data source, first and second surface data sources, and an image generator to integrate shading and texturing effects, ensuring accurate representation of airport surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If terrain data from TAWS database with multiple elevation values is used to generate three-dimensional perspective images, then terrain representation accuracy is improved, but surface features are lost due to conflict with ARINC 816 database single elevation value
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the airport surface area into multiple terrain cells, each capable of having its own elevation value. This allows the system to preserve the detailed terrain information from TAWS while maintaining the surface feature definitions from ARINC 816, resolving the contradiction between terrain accuracy and surface feature preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different elevation values for different terrain cells within the airport surface area. Each terrain cell can have customized elevation data from TAWS, while the overall surface features from ARINC 816 are maintained, enabling both accurate terrain representation and surface feature preservation simultaneously.
2Loss of information
If single elevation value from ARINC 816 database is used for airport surface, then surface feature preservation is improved, but terrain realism deteriorates due to flat and even terrain surface
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the airport surface into multiple terrain cells with individual elevation values from TAWS, the system maintains surface feature integrity from ARINC 816 while adding terrain realism through varied elevations, eliminating the flat terrain problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite data structure that combines surface feature definitions from ARINC 816 with elevation data from TAWS. This composite approach allows both single-elevation surface feature accuracy and multi-elevation terrain realism to coexist in the generated three-dimensional images.
3Quantity of substance
If both TAWS and ARINC 816 databases are combined for image generation, then data completeness is improved, but data compatibility problems arise due to different database purposes and elevation structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives data from both TAWS and ARINC 816 databases, reconciles their different elevation structures, and generates unified three-dimensional perspective images. This intermediary process resolves data compatibility issues while maintaining completeness from both sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal image generation system that can process and integrate data from multiple database sources with different structures. The system universally handles both TAWS terrain data and ARINC 816 surface feature data, making the integration process manageable despite the different purposes and structures of the source databases.
Data Source
AI summary
Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating surface data are disclosed. An image generator is configured to receive navigation data; retrieve first surface data representative of a plurality of elevations; retrieve second surface data representative of location and elevation information (and possibly dimensions and the locations of at least one surface feature) of at least one reference point; determine shading data as a function of the first surface data; modify the first surface data as a function of the second surface data; and generate image data as a function of the modified first surface data and the shading data, where the image data is representative of a three-dimensional perspective of a scene outside a vehicle comprised of at least one flattened surface feature area having one elevation and to which the shading represented in the shading data is applied.