Aircraft Traffic Filtering for Cockpit Display Clutter Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In aerospace vehicles, displaying all aircraft traffic during the cruise phase can cause clutter and increase workload for pilots, making it difficult to identify relevant aircraft without evaluating each individually, due to the large number of aircraft displayed on limited cockpit display space.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for filtering and presenting relevant aircraft traffic by determining the location and altitude of aircraft within a predetermined airspace relative to the pilot's own aircraft, using a traffic filtering module to distinguish relevant aircraft within a selected filtering airspace on the display, and presenting them in a specific format to reduce clutter and enhance situational awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all aircraft traffic is displayed on the navigation display during cruise phase, then complete situational awareness is provided, but display clutter increases and pilot workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments aircraft traffic into multiple priority categories (high, medium, low) based on relevance to the pilot's aircraft. The display system then selectively presents only high-priority traffic within a filtered airspace, dividing the information stream into manageable segments that reduce clutter while maintaining essential situational awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and filters only the most relevant aircraft traffic from the complete traffic picture. By applying filtering criteria (distance, altitude, horizontal separation) and priority categorization, the system extracts high-priority traffic information while eliminating unnecessary data, presenting only the essential information needed for safe flight operations.
2Quantity of substance
If all aircraft traffic is displayed on the navigation display, then complete traffic information is provided, but the limited display space is overwhelmed causing clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the airspace into a filtered region and other regions, segmenting traffic information by location and priority. This segmentation allows the limited display space to be used efficiently by showing only the most critical traffic within the filtered airspace, while providing access to additional information on demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different display qualities and priorities to different regions of airspace. High-priority traffic within the filtered airspace receives prominent display treatment, while lower-priority traffic is either omitted or displayed with reduced emphasis, optimizing the use of limited display real estate based on local relevance.
3Measurement precision
If individual evaluation of each aircraft is performed, then accurate situational awareness is achieved, but the time required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary filtering and prioritization of aircraft traffic automatically before presentation to the pilot. The system pre-evaluates all traffic using automated criteria (distance, altitude, separation standards) and categorizes aircraft by priority, so that when the pilot views the display, the most relevant information is already organized and highlighted, eliminating the need for manual evaluation of every aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automated traffic filtering and prioritization that serves itself without pilot intervention. The system automatically applies filtering criteria, categorizes traffic by priority, and organizes display information, freeing the pilot from the time-consuming task of individually evaluating each aircraft while maintaining accurate situational awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for filtering and presenting relevant aircraft traffic to a pilot may include determining a location and altitude of aircraft within a predetermined airspace relative to the pilot's own aircraft. The method may also include presenting a representation of the pilot's own aircraft and a representation of the location of each of the aircraft within the predetermined airspace in relation to the pilot's own aircraft on a display to the pilot. The method may additionally include filtering relevant aircraft within a selected filtering airspace relative to the pilot's own aircraft. The method may further include presenting the representation of the relevant aircraft within the selected filtering airspace in a selected format to distinguish the relevant aircraft within the selected filtering airspace from any other aircraft that may be presented in the display.