Aircraft Vertical Trajectory Switch Point Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight management systems (FMS) face challenges in accurately predicting vertical trajectories when an aircraft transitions from a closed-loop controlled mode to a manual guidance mode, leading to erroneous predictions due to pre-established hypotheses not aligning with the actual flight conditions, causing uncertainty in compliance with altitude constraints.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine a switch-over vertical point that allows an aircraft to transition from manual piloting to FMS-guided mode, calculating predicted trajectories based on dynamic flight equations and applying hypotheses for both manual and FMS piloting modes to align with initial altitude constraints, ensuring accurate compliance with flight plan constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If pre-established hypotheses for manual piloting mode are used to predict vertical trajectory, then calculation simplicity is maintained, but prediction accuracy deteriorates due to misalignment with actual flight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts prediction hypotheses based on the actual piloting mode. When manual piloting mode is detected, the system switches from pre-established hypotheses to dynamic hypotheses that account for manual flight characteristics, thereby maintaining prediction accuracy without requiring complex continuous adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of prediction hypotheses based on the piloting mode state. By detecting whether the aircraft is in manual or automated mode, the system selects appropriate hypothesis parameters (such as vertical speed profiles, altitude constraint compliance patterns) to match actual flight behavior, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and accuracy
2Adaptability or versatility
If transition from manual to FMS-guided mode is made without determining switch-over point, then operational flexibility is maintained, but compliance with altitude constraints deteriorates due to erroneous predictions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the switch-over vertical point before the actual mode transition occurs. By predicting where the transition should happen based on current trajectory and constraints, the system prepares the FMS-guided mode in advance, ensuring continuous compliance with altitude constraints while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The switch-over vertical point acts as an intermediary element between manual and FMS-guided modes. This calculated transition point ensures smooth handover of control while maintaining constraint compliance, bridging the gap between the two piloting modes without compromising reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a switch-over vertical point from which an aircraft, having a current position, and flying a current vertical trajectory according to a manual piloting mode having an altitude setpoint, denoted target altitude, loaded by the pilot, switches to a piloting mode guided by a flight management system, in order to rejoin a predefined flight plan having a set of initial altitude constraints, comprising: calculating a first predicted vertical trajectory, determining a first point of intersection between the first predicted trajectory and the target altitude, determining a second predicted trajectory, determining the switch-over vertical point belonging to the first predicted vertical trajectory, based on any incompatible constraints, and as the intersection between the first predicted vertical trajectory and a predicted vertical trajectory calculated by integration of the dynamic flight equations by applying calculation hypotheses for a piloting mode guided by a flight management system.