Airspace Awareness Warning System Alert Surface Generation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face safety challenges due to complex and invisible airspace boundaries, which can lead to accidental penetration of restricted or prohibited areas, especially in meteorological conditions or when distracted, posing risks from hazards like artillery firing or missile defense systems.
Innovation Solution
An airspace awareness and warning system (AAWS) generates alert signals by defining aircraft airspace alert and clearance surfaces using real-time and static input data from navigation, airspace, and terrain databases, triggering visual, aural, or tactile alerts when the clearance surface penetrates the alert surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If pilots rely on visual identification of physical landmarks to determine airspace boundaries, then they can understand airspace limits, but their attention is diverted from flying the aircraft and they may accidentally penetrate restricted areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-defines airspace boundaries using coordinate data before flight operations begin. The flight management system loads airspace definition data (latitude/longitude points, altitude floors, ceilings) into memory prior to flight, so that boundary information is readily available without requiring pilot visual verification during critical flight phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary computational system (processor and flight management system) that acts as a mediator between the complex airspace definitions and the pilot. The system automatically calculates whether the aircraft is approaching or penetrating airspace boundaries based on navigation data, eliminating the need for the pilot to directly interpret complex boundary geometries or divert attention to visual landmark identification.
2Measurement precision
If airspace boundaries are defined by complex irregular shapes with numerous landmarks, then precise airspace definition is achieved, but the pilot must look down to identify boundaries and lose focus on flying
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical/visual method of boundary identification (pilot looking down at landmarks) with an automated electronic computation system. The processor receives navigation data from aircraft systems and automatically compares the aircraft position against pre-stored airspace boundary coordinates, providing electronic alerts instead of requiring visual verification of complex geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the complex airspace definition into manageable computational components: vertical limits (altitude floors and ceilings) and horizontal limits (geographic coordinates) are stored as separate data sets. The processor evaluates vertical and horizontal boundary conditions independently, simplifying the computational task while maintaining precision for complex irregular airspace shapes.
3Productivity
If pilots fly in meteorological conditions that obscure visibility or during nighttime, then flight operations can continue, but pilots may unknowingly penetrate restricted airspace
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous feedback to the pilot regarding airspace proximity and penetration status. The processor monitors aircraft position relative to airspace boundaries in real-time and generates alerts (visual, aural, or tactile) when the aircraft approaches or penetrates restricted areas, ensuring reliable detection regardless of external visibility conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight management system performs self-service by automatically monitoring its own navigation data and comparing it against stored airspace definitions without requiring external visual verification. The system uses its own onboard navigation systems (GPS, inertial reference) to determine position and assess airspace compliance, making the detection process independent of external lighting or weather conditions.
4Reliability
If missile defense systems are employed to protect airspace, then security is enhanced, but pilots penetrating the airspace could experience tragic consequences
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by warning the pilot before the aircraft penetrates the restricted airspace boundary. The alert system provides advance notice (caution or warning alerts) that allows the pilot to take corrective action and avoid penetration, thereby preventing the activation of missile defense systems and eliminating the harmful effect before it can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
An airspace awareness and warning system (“AAWS”) provides input to an airspace alert (“AA”) processor from at least one real-time aircraft system or sensor, a navigation system, and an airspace database containing three-dimensional delineations of defined airspace; the processor determines an airspace clearance surface and an aircraft airspace alert surface, and if one surface penetrates the other, the processor generates an alert signal and provides an alert signal to a crew alerting system. The two surfaces are determined by the processor by executing an algorithm(s) embedded in software containing the disclosed embodiments and methods. At least one criterion used to define an aircraft airspace alert surface is programmed to include real-time and/or static input factor data provided by at least one system or sensor input from an aircraft. Such input factor could be used to define an airspace clearance surface.