Aircraft Processor Wake Turbulence Detection and Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for collecting data on wake turbulence encounters by aircraft are inadequate, providing piecemeal and non-rigorous information that does not allow for a complete analysis of flight behavior disturbances.
Innovation Solution
A method implemented by an aircraft using a processor to acquire, estimate, and report on the proximity of wake turbulence, including data acquisition, position estimation, proximity determination, and report generation, with optional computation and comparison steps to validate turbulence encounters based on external moments and airspeed data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data collection is performed manually by pilots in a succinct manner or after the event, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision and reliability of wake turbulence encounter data deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically collects wake turbulence encounter data using onboard sensors and processors without requiring manual input from pilots. The aircraft itself performs the data collection function through its existing flight data systems, transforming a manual task into an automated self-service process that maintains ease of operation while dramatically improving data precision and completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of pilot observation and recording with an automated electronic system using onboard sensors, data processors, and algorithms. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with electronic automation preserves ease of operation while enabling precise, continuous, and reliable wake turbulence data collection
2Reliability
If comprehensive automatic data collection systems are implemented to improve measurement precision, then the reliability of wake turbulence analysis is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the aircraft's existing multi-functional flight data systems and sensors for multiple purposes, including wake turbulence detection, general flight monitoring, and navigation. By making existing components serve multiple functions, the system achieves reliable wake turbulence data collection without adding dedicated complex hardware specifically for this purpose
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses existing flight data processors and sensors as intermediaries to extract wake turbulence information from general flight data streams. Rather than implementing a completely new dedicated system, the solution mediates between existing aircraft systems and wake turbulence analysis requirements, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability
3Ease of manufacture
If piecemeal data collection methods are used to reduce device complexity, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the quantity and completeness of wake turbulence data deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously collects wake turbulence data throughout the flight using ongoing sensor measurements and processing, rather than relying on discrete manual entries. This continuous data collection ensures comprehensive coverage of all wake turbulence encounters while utilizing the aircraft's continuously operating flight data systems, maintaining ease of manufacture through existing infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
A method to identify the proximity of a wake turbulence and to generate a report relative to that proximity. A method implemented by an aircraft comprising a processor makes it possible to identify the proximity of a wake turbulence and to generate a report relative to that proximity. The method includes a data acquisition step during which the processor retrieves and records the data relative to each generating aircraft present around the aircraft. In a position estimation step, the processor estimates the position of the wake turbulences generated by each generating aircraft. In a proximity step, the processor determines if the aircraft is close to at least one of the wake turbulences. In a generation step, the processor generates a report containing the data relative to each wake turbulence. The method makes it possible to identify the proximity of a wake turbulence in the vicinity of the aircraft and to automatically record the data relative to that wake turbulence.