Aircraft Vertical Trajectory Optimization With Altitude Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing costs of air travel and cargo transport due to rising fuel prices and environmental factors make it challenging to determine a cost-efficient vertical trajectory for aircraft, as existing flight management systems do not adequately consider atmospheric conditions and practical flying principles.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that calculate a cost-efficient vertical trajectory by obtaining aircraft performance and atmospheric data, adjusting altitude values to maintain consistency and reduce fuel consumption, and optimizing the route to ensure practical implementation, using a computing device onboard the aircraft or on the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a cost-efficient vertical trajectory is calculated based on aircraft performance data and atmospheric conditions, then fuel consumption is minimized, but the trajectory may not comply with practical flying principles and altitude consistency requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts trajectory parameters (altitude values) by applying an altitude consistency threshold that modifies the cost-efficient trajectory to meet practical flying requirements. This transforms the raw optimization output into an operationally viable trajectory by enforcing minimum altitude change thresholds between consecutive flight segments.
2Ease of operation
If altitude values are adjusted to maintain consistency and comply with thresholds, then practical implementation is improved, but the cost-efficiency and fuel minimization may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial adjustment to the trajectory by enforcing altitude consistency thresholds only when necessary. The altitude consistency check selectively modifies trajectory points that violate practical flying principles while leaving cost-efficient portions intact, thus achieving a balance between optimization and operability without excessive modifications.
3Loss of energy
If the vertical trajectory is optimized for cost-efficiency, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the trajectory may exhibit frequent altitude changes that are not practical for flight operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the calculated cost-efficient trajectory is evaluated against altitude consistency thresholds. When trajectory points violate the consistency requirements, the system adjusts them to comply, creating a stabilized trajectory that maintains both cost-efficiency and operational practicality through iterative refinement.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for calculating vertical trajectory values is provided. The method obtains aircraft performance data for a particular aircraft and atmospheric condition data associated with an air route; calculates a cost-efficient vertical trajectory for the air route, based on the aircraft performance data and the atmospheric condition data, wherein the cost-efficient vertical trajectory comprises a plurality of altitude values for minimizing cost for the particular aircraft during travel of the air route; obtains an altitude consistency threshold; and adjusts the cost-efficient vertical trajectory using the altitude consistency parameter, to create an optimized vertical trajectory for the aircraft route.