Aircraft Lateral Trajectory Search Using Tangential Circle Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems require significant processing resources and computation time to automatically determine a safe, flyable trajectory for an aircraft in real-time, from its current position to a georeferenced destination while avoiding obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A method implemented by a system with electronic circuitry that generates a trajectory by obtaining obstacle polygons, defining circles based on the aircraft's operational state and destination direction, and searching for a flyable lateral trajectory by bypassing polygon vertices and observing a pre-established vertical trajectory profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current systems automatically determine a safe trajectory for an aircraft in real-time, then the aircraft can navigate safely through obstacles, but the processing resources and computation time required are significant
Solution Approach 1:
The trajectory determination problem is segmented into two independent components: vertical trajectory profile (pre-established) and lateral trajectory (calculated in real-time). This segmentation allows the computationally intensive vertical path planning to be done beforehand, while only the lateral adjustments need real-time calculation, significantly reducing processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical trajectory profile is established in advance before the aircraft needs to navigate obstacles. By pre-calculating the vertical path and identifying relevant obstacles ahead of time, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time three-dimensional trajectory optimization, reducing computation time during critical flight phases.
2Reliability
If current systems automatically determine a safe trajectory for an aircraft in real-time, then the aircraft can navigate safely through obstacles, but the processing resources required are significant
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the trajectory calculation into vertical profile (pre-computed) and lateral path (real-time). This division reduces the computational burden on onboard processing resources by eliminating the need for real-time three-dimensional path optimization, while maintaining comprehensive obstacle avoidance capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification and filtering of obstacles that could affect the pre-established vertical trajectory profile. By pre-processing obstacle data and determining which obstacles are relevant to the specific flight path, the system reduces the complexity of real-time processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic trajectory generation system bringing a flying aircraft from a current position to a destination which: obtains polygons representing obstacles potentially encountered, each polygon associated with an altitude layer; defines two first tangential circles relative to a current direction of the aircraft flight, centered on the right and the left, relative to the aircraft current position; defining two second circles tangential relative to a direction to be followed to destination, centered on the right and the left, relative to the georeferenced destination position; defines a third circle around vertices of the polygons; and searches for a flyable lateral trajectory between the aircraft current position and the destination by bypassing the polygons by the vertices in searching for tangential trajectories between the circles, by observing a pre-established vertical trajectory profile, as well as the lateral margin and a vertical margin with the polygons.