Aircraft Operating State Determination Using Precomputed Trim Tables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing avionics systems face challenges in determining optimal aircraft operating states in real-time due to computationally expensive optimization algorithms, often relying on assumptions rather than real-time measurements, leading to potential inaccuracies and increased costs in fuel consumption and flight time.
Innovation Solution
A method that decouples the process into an a priori portion performed offline and an onboard processing portion using real-time measurements, allowing for the determination of aircraft trim parameters independently of dynamic parameters, which are then used to calculate an enhanced operating state for the aircraft, reducing computational burden and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time optimization algorithms are executed onboard using nested iterative computations for both aircraft trim and performance optimization, then measurement precision and operating state accuracy are improved, but computing time and device complexity increase by orders of magnitude
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optimization process into two distinct parts: (1) an offline phase that precomputes and stores performance data in lookup tables, and (2) an onboard phase that performs only simple interpolation and calculation using real-time measurements. This segmentation eliminates nested iterative computations onboard while maintaining accuracy by combining precomputed trim data with real-time operating parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary computation of aircraft performance data offline before flight operations. The offline phase precomputes performance parameters for various operating conditions and stores them in lookup tables, so that during flight, the system only needs to retrieve and interpolate from these precomputed tables rather than performing complex iterative optimizations in real-time.
2Device complexity
If offline tabulated results are used for aircraft performance optimization, then device complexity and computing time onboard are reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to reliance on assumptions rather than real-time measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates real-time feedback by using actual measured operating parameters (weight, altitude, temperature, speed) during flight to query the lookup tables and calculate performance optimization. This feedback mechanism replaces assumed values with real-time measurements, significantly improving accuracy while maintaining the computational simplicity of the offline approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces lookup tables as an intermediary between offline precomputation and onboard real-time operation. The lookup tables store precomputed performance data that can be efficiently queried using real-time measurements, serving as a bridge that combines the advantages of both offline computation accuracy and real-time measurement precision without requiring complex onboard iterative algorithms.
3Measurement precision
If nested iterative computations are performed onboard to solve both aircraft trim and optimization, then operating state accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases due to impractical computation time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the computationally intensive trim solving and performance optimization calculations in advance during an offline phase, storing results in lookup tables. During actual flight operations, the system only performs simple table lookups and interpolations based on current operating conditions, reducing computation time from orders of magnitude to negligible levels while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the computational task into offline segmentation (precomputing trim and performance data) and onboard segmentation (simple interpolation and calculation). This segmentation eliminates the need for nested iterative computations during flight, achieving both high accuracy and real-time performance by performing heavy computation beforehand when time is not constrained.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining an operating state for an aircraft are provided. In one example, a method can include accessing, by one or more computing devices located on an aircraft, a database of precomputed operating parameters associated with aircraft trim determined in a priori process. The method can further include receiving a real time measurement of one or more dyanamic parameters associated with the aircraft. An aircraft trim parameter can be determined from the precomputed operating parameters independent of the real time measurements. The method can further include determining an enhanced operating state for the aircraft based at least in part on the aircraft trim parameter and the real time measurement of the one or more dynamic operating parameters.