Auto-Takeoff Trajectory Control for Aircraft Noise Abatement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current noise abatement procedures during aircraft takeoff rely on manual pilot actions, which are difficult to execute accurately, leading to variability in takeoff trajectories and increased perceived noise levels, potentially resulting in aircraft bans at noise-restricted airports like London City Airport.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that optimizes the takeoff trajectory by using sensors and processors to calculate and control pitch rate, pitch angle, and thrust settings, ensuring consistent execution of noise-optimized takeoff procedures, including simultaneous changes in aerodynamic configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual pilot actions are used for noise abatement procedures, then pilot flexibility and situational awareness are maintained, but trajectory variability increases and noise reduction effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the aircraft to automatically execute noise abatement procedures through self-monitoring and self-adjustment of flight parameters. The control system continuously monitors trajectory deviations and automatically applies corrective pitch and thrust commands without requiring continuous pilot intervention, allowing the aircraft to serve itself in maintaining the optimized noise abatement trajectory.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback by continuously monitoring actual flight parameters (pitch angle, thrust setting, trajectory position) and comparing them against the optimal noise abatement trajectory. Based on this feedback, the control system automatically adjusts control surfaces and engine thrust to correct deviations, ensuring precise trajectory accuracy while reducing pilot workload to monitoring and oversight functions.
2Reliability
If automated control is implemented for noise abatement, then trajectory consistency and noise reduction improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated noise abatement system is integrated into the aircraft's existing flight control and engine control systems, allowing these multi-functional systems to serve both traditional flight control purposes and noise abatement objectives. This approach avoids creating entirely separate dedicated systems and instead enhances the functionality of existing components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while achieving reliable noise regulation compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the noise abatement control functions with the existing flight management and autopilot systems. By combining multiple control objectives (trajectory following, noise abatement, flight safety) into a unified control architecture, the system achieves reliable noise regulation compliance without the complexity of separate independent control systems for each function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If restrictive noise procedures are enforced at airports like London City Airport, then community noise impact is reduced, but aircraft operational availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts flight parameters (pitch rate, thrust setting, climb angle) during takeoff to optimize the noise abatement trajectory. By precisely controlling these parameters, the aircraft can comply with restrictive noise procedures at airports like London City Airport while maintaining safe and efficient operations, thereby reducing community noise impact without significantly affecting aircraft operational availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates and prepares the optimized noise abatement trajectory before takeoff, determining the sequence of pitch and thrust adjustments needed to minimize noise impact. This preliminary planning allows the aircraft to execute the noise-reducing procedure efficiently during the critical takeoff phase, ensuring compliance with airport noise restrictions while maintaining operational productivity and availability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a
Figure 3b
AI summary
Aircraft takeoff trajectory is automatically optimized to minimize Perceived Noise Level. A flight computer automatically performs all the actions to takeoff the airplane and assure that its real takeoff trajectory is compliant with the takeoff trajectory optimized. Variability of trajectory is eliminated through automation of pilot's actions during takeoff and assurance of an optimum trajectory. The system also provides for simultaneity of actions and the changing of aerodynamic configuration during takeoff.