Aircraft Voice Command Filtering by Flight Phase
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing avionics systems in aircraft face challenges in providing a reliable and efficient means for pilots to interact with multiple systems quickly and accurately, especially considering the dynamic operating environment and safety concerns, which current speech recognition systems fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A system that identifies the flight phase of an aircraft, filters audio inputs based on this phase, and validates them as specific voice commands from a limited set, ensuring accurate recognition and execution by the avionics systems, using an audio input device, data storage for voice commands, and a processing system that accounts for ambient noise models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If speech recognition systems are implemented to enable quick interaction with avionics systems, then the speed of interaction is improved, but the accuracy and reliability of command recognition deteriorates due to ambient noise and dynamic operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to different flight phases (takeoff, cruise, landing, etc.) by adjusting speech recognition parameters and noise filtering settings based on the current operating conditions. The avionics system identifies the flight phase and modifies audio processing accordingly, allowing quick interaction while maintaining accuracy despite varying ambient noise levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes recognition parameters such as noise thresholds, sensitivity levels, and acceptable command variations based on the identified flight phase. During high-noise phases like takeoff, the system adjusts parameters to filter out engine noise while remaining sensitive to pilot commands, thereby maintaining both speed and accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a comprehensive set of voice commands is provided for all avionics functions, then the versatility of the system is improved, but the complexity of command validation and recognition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The comprehensive set of voice commands is segmented and organized by flight phase and avionics system. Instead of a single large command set, the system divides commands into categories such as navigation, communication, engine control, and displays, with each category further divided by relevant flight phases. This segmentation simplifies validation logic while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary filtering of commands based on the current flight phase before full validation. Only commands appropriate for the current phase are considered for execution, which simplifies the validation process. For example, during takeoff, only navigation and engine-related commands are permitted, while entertainment system commands are automatically filtered out.
3Measurement precision
If audio filtering is applied to improve speech recognition accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial filtering by selecting only the most critical noise components to remove based on the flight phase. Instead of applying comprehensive filtering to all audio frequencies, the system identifies and filters only the dominant noise frequencies relevant to the current operating conditions, achieving sufficient accuracy with reduced processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio filtering process is optimized to use pre-computed noise profiles for different flight phases that are stored in the system. Rather than performing complex real-time spectral analysis, the system matches the current phase to a pre-characterized noise profile and applies the corresponding filter settings, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.
4Ease of operation
If multiple user input devices are provided for different avionics systems, then the ease of operation for specific functions is improved, but the overall device complexity and cockpit clutter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voice command system serves as a universal input device that can control multiple avionics systems without requiring separate physical controls for each function. A single voice interface replaces numerous buttons, switches, and knobs across navigation, communication, engine control, and display systems, reducing cockpit clutter while maintaining ease of operation through natural language commands.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for utilizing audio commands onboard an aircraft. A method comprises identifying a flight phase for the aircraft, resulting in an identified flight phase, receiving an audio input, resulting in received audio input, filtering the received audio input in a manner that is influenced by the identified flight phase for the aircraft, resulting in filtered audio input, and validating the filtered audio input as a first voice command of a first plurality of possible voice commands.