Aircraft Taxiing Assistance System Using Visual Odometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is currently no certified function that fully assists pilots of aircraft during taxiing on airport traffic lanes, making it difficult for them to follow the required path accurately.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that includes a surveillance unit to detect airport traffic lane characteristics and determine the aircraft's relative position, providing assistance information to an assistance unit to help the pilot navigate, using a combination of odometry, optical detection, radar, and data processing to ensure the aircraft follows the assigned path, with options for varying levels of automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If no certified function is used for taxiing assistance, then the system remains simple, but the pilot cannot accurately follow the required path
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the taxiing assistance function into modular components: surveillance unit for detecting characteristic elements, data processing unit for calculating position and deviation, and assistance unit for providing guidance information. This modular architecture enables certified path following accuracy while managing system complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary assistance function that processes surveillance data and provides processed guidance information to the pilot. This intermediary layer translates raw sensor data into actionable navigation assistance, achieving path following accuracy without requiring direct complex system integration.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual navigation is used, then the system remains simple to operate, but the pilot cannot maintain accurate path following
Solution Approach 1:
The surveillance unit automatically detects characteristic elements and calculates aircraft position and deviation without requiring pilot intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously processing navigation data and providing assistance information, achieving accurate path following while reducing pilot workload.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors aircraft position relative to the desired path and provides real-time feedback through assistance information. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables accurate path following by constantly comparing actual position with target position and guiding corrections.
3Manufacturing precision
If automated assistance is implemented, then path following accuracy improves, but the extent of automation increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The automated assistance system is segmented into distinct functional units with clear interfaces, allowing certified automation levels to be achieved through modular certification. Each unit can be independently validated, managing the complexity associated with high levels of automation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively assists pilots in maintaining the correct path during taxiing, providing accurate navigation and reducing pilot intervention through automated assistance, enhancing safety and efficiency by using a combination of visual odometry, image processing, and data fusion from multiple sources.
Implementation Method 1
at least one odometry step at least to implement a visual odometry in order to determine at least the position of the aircraft
Implementation Method 2
an image processing substep at least for processing at least some of the images taken in said imaging substep so as to detect at least one characteristic element
Implementation Method 3
a radar detection step at least to detect a limit between a zone provided with a coating for taxiing on the traffic lane and a zone without any coating for taxiing
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for assisting a pilot of an aircraft when the aircraft is taxiing on a traffic lane of an airport are described. The system includes a unit for receiving at least a part of a path (TR) to be followed by the aircraft (AC) on the airport, a unit for surveying the airport so as to be able to detect a characteristic element of a traffic lane taken by the aircraft (AC), to determine a current relative position of the aircraft (AC) with respect to the characteristic element detected and to deduce therefrom at least one assistance information item, and a unit for assisting the pilot of the aircraft (AC) when taxiing on the airport by taking into account at least this assistance information item, this assistance being able to be implemented according to a plurality of different, more or less automated, assistance modes.