Aircraft Wake Vortex Prediction for Proactive Flight Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wake turbulence avoidance techniques rely on pilot awareness and reactive measures, which are inadequate for predicting and mitigating future conflicts with wake vortices generated by other aircraft.
Innovation Solution
An avionics system that predicts future wake vortex conflicts by modeling the path and location of wake vortices using kinematic energy models and continuously assessing multiple flight trajectories to identify and avoid potential hazards, automatically deploying autopilot mechanisms when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional reactive wake avoidance techniques are used, then pilot awareness and manual avoidance are maintained, but future wake vortex conflicts cannot be predicted or proactively mitigated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future wake vortex locations and trajectories before the subject aircraft encounters them. The onboard computer calculates potential wake vortex paths based on intruder aircraft data and subject aircraft flight plans, enabling proactive avoidance maneuvers rather than reactive responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring intruder aircraft positions, calculating wake vortex trajectories, and comparing predicted wake locations with the subject aircraft's intended flight path. This closed-loop feedback enables dynamic adjustment of avoidance maneuvers based on real-time wake conflict assessments.
2Reliability
If automated wake vortex prediction systems are implemented, then proactive avoidance capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The onboard computer leverages existing multi-functional avionics capabilities by integrating wake vortex prediction with existing flight management systems, terrain avoidance systems, and autopilot functions. This universal approach allows a single system to handle multiple protection functions without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically calculating wake vortex trajectories, assessing conflicts, and determining avoidance maneuvers without requiring external ground-based radar or additional specialized sensors. The aircraft uses its own onboard computers and existing sensor data to provide self-contained wake protection.
3Measurement precision
If multiple flight trajectories are continuously assessed, then wake conflict identification accuracy is improved, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by assessing multiple potential trajectories but focusing computational resources on evaluating only those trajectories that have potential wake conflicts. Rather than exhaustively analyzing every possible flight path, the system identifies and evaluates only the relevant subset of trajectories that require wake avoidance assessment.
Data Source
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AI summary
Avionics systems, aircraft, and methods are provided. An avionics system for a subject aircraft includes an intruder aircraft detection device and a processor. The processor is programmed to: identify an intruder aircraft using the intruder aircraft detection device; predict a future path of the intruder aircraft; estimate strength, size, and location characteristics of a wake vortex created by the intruder aircraft at future points in time along the future path; calculate a potential trajectory with potential positions of the subject aircraft at each of the future points in time; compare the potential positions with the strength, size, and location characteristics of the wake vortex at each of the future points in time to identify a wake conflict; and maneuver the subject aircraft based on the wake conflict.