Altitude Capture Controller Energy State Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional altitude capture systems in aircraft often attempt altitude maneuvers without sufficient energy, leading to deviations from target altitudes and unsafe conditions, as they do not adequately account for the platform's energy state during vertical speed control.

Innovation Solution

A flight controller system incorporating an altitude capture controller, an altitude profile predictor, and an alert generator that assesses the platform's current and predicted altitudes based on energy state parameters, generating alerts when deviations exceed thresholds, allowing for timely mode changes or crew intervention to prevent unsafe conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the altitude capture controller generates flight control commands based on current altitude and energy state parameters, then the platform can attempt to reach the target altitude, but the system may not have sufficient energy to achieve the target altitude prior to or during the maneuver

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealtitude capture reliabilityVSAvoidplatform energy sufficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The altitude profile predictor performs preliminary prediction of the platform's altitude profile at future time points based on current energy state parameters before the altitude capture maneuver is executed. This allows the system to assess whether sufficient energy is available to achieve the target altitude in advance, preventing unreliable altitude capture attempts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The alert generator continuously compares the predicted altitude profile with the expected altitude profile and generates alerts when deviations exceed thresholds. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about energy sufficiency during the altitude capture maneuver, allowing for timely corrective actions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the system attempts altitude capture maneuvers without sufficient energy assessment, then the altitude capture can be initiated, but deviations from target altitudes and unsafe conditions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealtitude capture initiation speedVSAvoidaltitude capture safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of the altitude profile at a second time point before initiating the altitude capture maneuver. This advance assessment allows the system to determine energy sufficiency and potential deviations before the maneuver begins, ensuring safety without significantly delaying initiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The alert generator proactively identifies potential altitude deviations by comparing predicted profiles with expected profiles and generates alerts before unsafe conditions occur. This preliminary anti-action prevents deviations and unsafe conditions rather than reacting to them after they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If the system monitors altitude deviations in real-time, then unsafe conditions can be detected, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealtitude monitoring accuracyVSAvoidflight controller complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The altitude profile predictor creates a simplified predictive model (copy) of the platform's expected altitude profile based on current energy state parameters. This copy allows for easy comparison with the actual altitude profile without requiring complex real-time analysis of all flight parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system focuses monitoring on specific critical parameters (altitude deviation thresholds at different time points) rather than continuously analyzing all flight parameters. By changing the monitoring approach to parameter-based threshold comparison, the system achieves reliable detection without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10691139B1Systems and methods for altitude capture performance monitor

Publication Date: 2020.06.23 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

A flight controller includes an altitude capture controller, an altitude profile predictor, and an alert generator. The altitude capture controller receives a first current altitude, a target altitude, and at least one energy state parameter; generates a flight control command, a first expected altitude, and a first predicted altitude. The altitude profile predictor generates a second predicted altitude. The alert generator calculates an expected altitude deviation by comparing a second current altitude of the platform to the first expected altitude; calculates a predicted altitude deviation by comparing the first predicted altitude to the second predicted altitude; and outputs an alert responsive to at least one of (i) an expected altitude threshold function indicating the expected altitude deviation exceeds an expected altitude deviation threshold or (ii) a predicted altitude threshold function indicating the predicted altitude deviation exceeds a predicted altitude deviation threshold.