Trajectory Prediction for Aircraft Interference Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems for vehicles, particularly aircraft, lack sufficient information about other traffic to enable operators to plan and implement efficient maneuvers to avoid interference, leading to suboptimal flight paths, increased fuel consumption, and delayed arrival times.
Innovation Solution
A processing system that predicts trajectories of other vehicles using Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) information and historical data, and presents modification recommendations to operators, such as early altitude changes, to minimize interference and optimize flight plans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an aircraft operates at high speed in its efficient flight corridor, then flight efficiency is improved, but interference from slower traffic increases causing delays and additional fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting trajectories of surrounding aircraft and identifying potential interference before it occurs. The navigation system calculates probable interference scenarios in advance and presents maneuver options to the operator, enabling proactive rather than reactive decision-making. This allows the aircraft to maintain efficient high-speed operation while preemptively avoiding future interference situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system resolves conflicts by transitioning to another dimensional space - specifically, by recommending altitude changes (vertical dimension) when horizontal path interference is detected. This allows the aircraft to maintain its efficient speed and trajectory in the horizontal plane while avoiding slower traffic by operating at different altitude levels, thus preserving flight efficiency without time delays.
2Reliability
If an air traffic controller requires an aircraft to increase altitude to avoid slower aircraft, then collision avoidance is achieved, but unplanned maneuvers increase fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting trajectories of surrounding aircraft and identifying potential interference before it occurs. The navigation system calculates probable interference scenarios in advance and presents maneuver options to the operator, enabling proactive rather than reactive decision-making. This allows the aircraft to maintain efficient high-speed operation while preemptively avoiding future interference situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes fuel consumption by carefully selecting and timing parameter changes in the maneuver plan. Rather than making abrupt unplanned altitude changes, the system calculates optimal maneuver profiles that minimize energy expenditure, considering aircraft performance characteristics and the timing of interference events. This allows collision avoidance while maintaining reasonable fuel efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If a pilot relies on limited traffic information from radio communication or TCAS advisories, then operational simplicity is maintained, but maneuver planning quality deteriorates leading to suboptimal flight paths
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer between raw ADS-B data and the pilot's decision-making. The navigation system automatically receives, processes, and analyzes ADS-B traffic information, filtering and presenting only relevant interference scenarios and maneuver recommendations to the pilot. This intermediary handles the complexity of data processing while maintaining operational simplicity for the pilot, effectively bridging the gap between information completeness and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of obtaining and analyzing traffic information with an automated electronic processing system. Instead of the pilot manually monitoring radio communications and TCAS advisories, the navigation system automatically processes ADS-B data, calculates interference probabilities, and generates maneuver recommendations, thereby providing comprehensive traffic information without increasing operational burden.
4Measurement precision
If a pilot manually obtains and analyzes available traffic information, then decision accuracy is improved, but time availability for requesting trajectory changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously and automatically processing ADS-B traffic information and calculating potential interference scenarios in advance. By the time a conflict becomes imminent, the system has already identified it and prepared maneuver recommendations, eliminating the time-consuming manual analysis process while maintaining high decision accuracy through sophisticated trajectory prediction algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of obtaining and analyzing traffic information with an automated electronic processing system. Instead of the pilot manually monitoring radio communications and TCAS advisories, the navigation system automatically processes ADS-B data, calculates interference probabilities, and generates maneuver recommendations, thereby providing comprehensive traffic information without increasing operational burden.
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure relates to navigating a vehicle based on predicted trajectories of other vehicles. Systems, methods, and computer-program products consistent with the disclosure perform operations including receiving location information of other vehicles. The operations also include comparing the location information of the other vehicles with an intended trajectory information of the vehicle. The operations further include determining that interference exists based on the comparing. Additionally, the operations include determining a modification to the intended trajectory information of the vehicle that resolves the interference with one of the other vehicles. Moreover, the operations include presenting the modification to the intended trajectory information of the vehicle to an operator of the vehicle. Further, the operations include modifying the intended trajectory using the modification.