Airport Moving Map Traffic Filtering for Cockpit Clutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft cockpit display systems face clutter issues due to the display of all traffic symbology and data on airport or runway moving maps, particularly at scales of 0.5 to 10 nm, which hinders situational awareness and safety during taxi, takeoff, and landing.
Innovation Solution
An electronic airport moving map system that filters traffic data based on the ownship's speed and position, using a traffic switch to control the display of air and ground traffic, with algorithms determining relevant traffic to show only when necessary, reducing clutter and enhancing situational awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all traffic symbology and data are displayed on airport or runway moving map, then complete traffic information is provided, but display clutter increases making the display unusable at small scales
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traffic information display into multiple levels or modes (e.g., condensed mode showing only selected traffic, expanded mode showing all traffic). This allows the system to divide the comprehensive traffic data into manageable portions based on display scale and pilot needs, resolving the contradiction between providing complete information and maintaining display usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic traffic display that automatically adjusts the amount of traffic information shown based on the current display scale or range. As the pilot zooms in or out, the system dynamically modifies which traffic elements are displayed, ensuring optimal readability at all scales while maintaining access to complete traffic data when needed.
2Measurement precision
If display range is set to small scales (0.5 to 10 nm), then detailed runway and taxiway information is visible, but traffic clutter makes the display unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different portions of the display to have different levels of traffic information density. Critical areas such as runway environments may show condensed traffic information, while other areas maintain full detail, enabling precise local viewing without overall clutter.
3Measurement precision
If manual range selection is used, then display range is precisely controlled, but important traffic or areas may be excluded from view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the current display range and automatically adjust traffic display settings based on the selected scale. This feedback loop ensures that when pilots choose manual range settings, the system responds by optimizing traffic information visibility appropriate to that range, preventing important traffic from being excluded.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for displaying an airport or runway moving map with traffic information on a display screen in the cockpit or flight deck of an aircraft. Symbology representing surface and near-surface aircraft and surface vehicle traffic and associated traffic data are filtered to prevent or limit clutter on the display screen. Traffic symbology is automatically and manually filtered to display only relevant traffic. Traffic data is selectively displayed and displayed as/when relevant or needed. The displayed traffic information may be derived from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, traffic information system-broadcast, automatic dependent surveillance-rebroadcast, traffic collision avoidance system or other source.