Aircraft Wake Turbulence Alerting for Faster Pilot Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to promptly and effectively alert pilots to wake turbulence, leading to potential safety risks due to inconsistent and delayed communication from air traffic control.
Innovation Solution
A control unit monitors the position and projected path of an ownship aircraft, tracks target aircraft within the airspace, and determines projected wake turbulence, outputting alerts via display or speaker when an intersection is detected, using artificial intelligence and machine learning to filter relevant data and automatically adjust aircraft controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air traffic control verbally informs pilots of wake turbulence, then pilot awareness is improved, but response time is delayed due to communication limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical communication system (radio communication between air traffic control and pilots) with an automated electronic detection and alerting system. The system uses sensors, processors, and display devices to automatically detect wake turbulence and present information to pilots, eliminating communication delays and providing immediate awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables pilots to receive wake turbulence information autonomously without requiring air traffic control intervention. The automated system continuously monitors aircraft positions, calculates wake turbulence parameters, and presents alerts directly to the pilot's aircraft, making the information service self-sufficient and immediately available.
2Measurement precision
If air traffic control monitors all aircraft for wake turbulence, then detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wake turbulence detection function into distributed components located on individual aircraft. Each aircraft's system independently monitors its own wake turbulence characteristics using local sensors and processors, rather than requiring a centralized complex monitoring system to track all aircraft simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses universal aircraft systems (position sensors, flight data processors, display devices) that already exist on modern aircraft to perform wake turbulence detection. This multi-functional approach allows the same hardware to serve both flight control and wake turbulence monitoring purposes, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and a method include a control unit configured to monitor a first position of an ownship aircraft within an airspace, determine a projected path for the ownship aircraft within the airspace, monitor a second position of a target aircraft within an airspace, and determine a projected wake turbulence of the target aircraft within the airspace. The ownship aircraft is configured to be operated to avoid the projected wake turbulence.