Aircraft Trajectory Determination via Discontinuity Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight management systems (FMS) face inaccuracies in predicting aircraft trajectories due to lateral discontinuities, leading to erroneous distance calculations, premature alerts, and inefficient energy dissipation, which can result in undesired actuator extensions and steep descents.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining an aircraft's trajectory that involves precalculating a reference profile with required distances for segments of discontinuity, ensuring compliance with speed and altitude constraints, and integrating these distances into the trajectory, while also determining substitution segments to connect frame segments continuously, thus avoiding direct distance assumptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct distance is assumed between frame segments separated by lateral discontinuity, then calculation complexity is reduced, but prediction accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The trajectory is divided into frame segments separated by lateral discontinuities. Each frame segment is processed independently to calculate required distance, allowing the system to handle complex trajectories with discontinuities while maintaining manageable calculation complexity through structured segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The required distance between frame segments is calculated in advance during the trajectory determination process, before actual flight execution. This preliminary calculation of energy dissipation requirements allows the system to prepare accurate predictions without increasing real-time computational complexity.
2Measurement precision
If required distance is calculated considering energy dissipation constraints, then prediction accuracy is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter from simple direct distance to required distance that incorporates energy dissipation constraints. By integrating speed and altitude constraints into the distance calculation, the system achieves accurate predictions while managing complexity through parameter transformation rather than complex algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simplified energy dissipation models and standard aircraft performance data that are readily available and computationally efficient. Rather than using complex real-time simulations, the system employs pre-established performance parameters that provide sufficient accuracy with minimal computational overhead.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lateral discontinuity is present in flight plan, then operational flexibility is improved, but trajectory continuity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces substitution segments as intermediary elements that connect frame segments separated by lateral discontinuities. These substitution segments act as mediators that restore trajectory continuity in the reference profile while preserving the operational flexibility provided by manual termination legs in the flight plan.
Solution Approach 2:
The system distinguishes between two dimensions: the flight plan dimension (which allows lateral discontinuities for operational flexibility) and the reference profile dimension (which requires continuity for accurate predictions). By operating in both dimensions simultaneously, the system achieves both flexibility and continuity where needed.
4Use of energy by moving object
If substitution segment is determined based on required distance, then energy management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the spatial extent parameter of substitution segments from arbitrary values to required distance values calculated based on energy dissipation constraints. This parameter transformation enables proper energy management by ensuring that substitution segments provide sufficient distance for speed and altitude adjustments without requiring complex real-time energy calculations.
Data Source
AI summary
This method comprises a step of determining a reference profile along a lateral trajectory precalculated comprising searching, in the precalculated lateral trajectory, at least one segment of discontinuity comprising a lateral discontinuity, determining a required distance corresponding to a minimum flight distance between the two segments bordering the discontinuity segment and integrating each required distance into the reference profile.This method further comprises a step of determining, on the basis of the reference profile, vertical predictions relating to a vertical trajectory of the aircraft and a step of determining, on the basis of the vertical predictions, a resulting lateral trajectory comprising, for each discontinuity segment, determining a substitution segment connecting the two corresponding bordering segments in a continuous manner.