Autonomous Aircraft Trajectory Conflict Detection and Maneuver Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collision avoidance systems for autonomous aircraft do not provide specific heading and direction information for resolving mid-air conflicts, and they are not designed for fully autonomous implementation.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines trajectories of an aircraft and nearby moving objects, predicts conflicts, and selects a maneuver to avoid the most-imminent conflict by providing specific heading and direction changes, which can be displayed on a user interface or automatically executed by the aircraft's guidance system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If existing collision avoidance systems provide visual traffic monitoring, then pilots can see nearby aircraft, but the systems do not provide specific heading and direction information for resolving conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary conflict resolution module that processes trajectory data and generates specific maneuver instructions (heading changes and direction commands). This intermediary layer translates raw traffic data into actionable guidance, providing the missing conflict resolution information without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables autonomous aircraft to self-determine conflict-free trajectories by automatically comparing its own trajectory with nearby aircraft trajectories and generating resolution maneuvers. The aircraft serves itself by autonomously computing and executing conflict avoidance maneuvers without continuous human intervention
2Extent of automation
If existing systems output traffic alert resolution advisories for human interpretation, then pilots receive guidance, but the systems are not designed for fully autonomous implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its operation mode between human-in-the-loop and fully autonomous based on situation assessment. The conflict resolution process dynamically generates real-time maneuver instructions and can automatically execute them through guidance system integration, enabling flexible transition between operational modes
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with multi-functionality to serve both human-operated and autonomous aircraft. It provides conflict detection and resolution capabilities that work universally across different operational modes, whether the output is displayed for human interpretation or automatically transmitted to guidance systems for autonomous execution
3Reliability
If the system continuously monitors and predicts conflicts, then collision avoidance is improved, but computational requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary conflict detection by continuously comparing trajectories and identifying potential conflicts before they become critical threats. By detecting and resolving conflicts in advance, the system maintains high reliability while avoiding the need for intensive real-time computation during critical avoidance maneuvers
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements selective monitoring that focuses computational resources on detecting and resolving the most imminent conflicts rather than equally processing all possible trajectory intersections. This partial action approach maintains adequate collision avoidance reliability while reducing overall computational energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for detecting and avoiding a conflict along a current route of a vehicle is described. In some implementations, the system accesses or determines trajectories of the vehicle and a plurality of nearby moving objects, the trajectories being determined forward in time. Next, the system performs a comparison of the trajectories, and, predicts one or more conflicts between the vehicle and corresponding ones of the nearby moving objects. The system then determines the most-imminent conflict and selects a maneuver to avoid the most-imminent conflict. The system includes a user interface, where a specific resolution to the conflict is displayed. The specific resolution includes a direction in which to turn the vehicle and the magnitude of heading change. In some alternative implementations, the specific resolution is transmitted to a guidance system of the vehicle where the resolution is automatically executed by the guidance system.