Automatic Descent Planning for Supersonic Flight Restrictions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Supersonic flight poses challenges due to certification limitations and the need to manage sonic booms, making it difficult to determine and execute an automated descent while avoiding populated areas and weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatic descent mode that determines a descent trigger condition, generates a descent plan including supersonic-to-subsonic transitions, and provides actuator instructions to control the vehicle, while considering clearance data to avoid populated areas, weather, and supersonic flight restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a vehicle performs supersonic flight, then high speed capability is achieved, but certification limitations and sonic boom restrictions are imposed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between supersonic and subsonic flight modes based on real-time conditions. The automated descent process adjusts flight regime adaptively, switching from supersonic to subsonic flight when approaching populated areas or restricted zones, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining high speed and adapting to operational constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes flight parameters (speed, altitude, Mach number) to transition between supersonic and subsonic regimes. By modifying these parameters automatically during descent, the vehicle can maintain performance while complying with certification limitations and avoiding sonic booms over restricted areas.
2Productivity
If automated descent is performed from supersonic flight, then efficient descent is achieved, but sonic booms may affect populated areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary planning of the descent trajectory to identify restricted zones and populated areas before executing the descent. By pre-calculating the descent path and identifying where subsonic transition should occur, the system ensures efficient descent while avoiding sonic boom impacts on populated areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful sonic boom effect into a beneficial operational feature by using it as a constraint to guide descent planning. The automated system strategically transitions to subsonic flight to direct sonic booms away from populated areas, thereby transforming a harmful effect into a controlled operational parameter.
3Ease of operation
If manual control is used for descent, then flexibility in decision-making is maintained, but automation and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automated descent planning and execution independently, gathering necessary data from onboard systems and external sources, generating the descent plan, and controlling the vehicle without continuous pilot intervention. This self-service capability maintains operational flexibility while achieving high automation and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors flight parameters, clearance data, and environmental conditions during descent, using this feedback to adjust the descent plan in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures the automated system can adapt to changing conditions while maintaining efficient automated operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for controlling an automatic descent of a vehicle. For instance, the method may include: determining whether a descent trigger condition is present; and in response to determining the descent trigger condition is present, performing an automatic descent process. The automatic descent process may include: obtaining clearance data from an on-board system of the vehicle; generating a descent plan based on the clearance data, the descent plan including a supersonic-to-subsonic transition and/or a supersonic-descent to a target altitude; and generating actuator instructions to a control the vehicle to descend to the target altitude based on the descent plan.