Aircraft Speed Profile Planning for Cost-Aware Waypoint Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft operation systems do not account for operating costs when managing speed constraints, which are essential for optimizing flight safety and performance, particularly in NextGen air transportation systems that rely on 4D trajectories and speed constraints.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that determines a speed profile for aircraft based on speed constraints and maximum acceleration, allowing autonomous operation to optimize speed and reduce costs by identifying a target speed and constructing a speed profile within a defined speed envelope region, influenced by the target speed and constraints such as AT or AT OR ABOVE speed constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If speed constraints are strictly enforced to ensure separation and optimize traffic flow, then flight safety and performance are improved, but operating costs increase due to deviation from optimum speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts speed constraints based on real-time factors including aircraft weight, altitude, meteorological conditions, and cost index. Rather than enforcing fixed speed constraints, the system continuously optimizes speed profiles to balance safety requirements with operating cost minimization, allowing speeds to adapt to changing operational conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously including speed, altitude, and timing to find optimal trajectories that satisfy separation requirements while minimizing deviation from cost-optimum speeds. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can maintain safety margins while reducing operating costs
2Productivity
If RTA constraints are imposed to guarantee time of arrival and manage spacing, then traffic flow management is optimized, but flexibility in speed selection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically generates multiple speed profiles that can achieve RTA constraints while accommodating different speed preferences and operational conditions. The system adapts speed selections based on real-time factors such as cost index, weather conditions, and aircraft performance, providing flexibility within the RTA framework rather than enforcing rigid speed schedules
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the flight trajectory into multiple phases and generates speed profiles for each segment that collectively satisfy the RTA constraint. This allows different speed strategies to be applied in different flight phases, maintaining overall timing requirements while providing local flexibility for cost optimization
3Reliability
If custom-made 4D trajectories are implemented to optimize separation and traffic flow, then flight safety is improved, but complexity of trajectory management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements autonomous trajectory management where the aircraft's flight management system automatically generates and follows optimized speed profiles based on pre-computed 4D trajectories. The system self-adjusts speeds and timing to maintain separation and meet RTA constraints without requiring complex manual intervention or continuous air traffic control guidance
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-computes multiple optimized speed profiles and 4D trajectories before flight, incorporating all relevant constraints and cost considerations. During flight, the system simply executes the pre-planned trajectory with automatic adjustments, avoiding the need for complex real-time decision-making and reducing operational complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for managing speed-constrained vehicle operations. One exemplary method of operating an aircraft involves identifying a speed constraint associated with a navigational reference point, determining a speed envelope region en route to the navigational reference point based at least in part on the first speed constraint, identifying a target speed en route to the navigational reference point, and determining a speed profile for autonomously operations en route to the navigational reference point within the speed envelope region. The speed profile intersects the target speed within the speed envelope region and a slope of the speed profile is influenced by the target speed, for example, to effectuate or approximate the target speed by increasing the duration of time operation at or around the target speed is achieved. In one or more embodiments, multiple different target speeds associated with different flight levels or operating regions are accounted for.