Avionic Display Wake Turbulence Location Rendering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to accurately provide information about wake turbulence to aircraft crews, making it difficult to avoid potential hazards during takeoff and landing, as the dynamic nature of wake turbulence and varying aircraft weights complicate maintaining safe separation distances.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a display device and controller onboard an aircraft that receives and processes data on wake turbulence generated by other aircraft, determining its location and intensity, and rendering visual elements on the display to inform pilots of potential threats, allowing for timely avoidance maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air traffic controllers manually calculate and monitor wake turbulence separation distances between aircraft, then safety can be maintained through human judgment and adaptability, but the accuracy and reliability of separation calculations deteriorate due to the dynamic nature of wake turbulence, varying aircraft weights, and multiple simultaneous operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated wake turbulence separation management system that acts as an intermediary between air traffic controllers and aircraft. This system receives data from multiple sources (aircraft transponders, weather sensors, airport surface detection), processes wake turbulence calculations using standardized models, and provides real-time separation recommendations to controllers. The intermediary system handles the complex computational tasks while controllers maintain supervisory oversight, combining automated precision with human adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where wake turbulence parameters are monitored in real-time, separation distances are dynamically recalculated as aircraft move, and controllers receive updated guidance. The system also provides feedback on the effectiveness of separation maneuvers and adjusts future recommendations based on actual wake turbulence behavior observations, creating a closed-loop control system that improves both precision and adaptability.
2Measurement precision
If automated systems are used to calculate and manage wake turbulence separation, then measurement precision and reliability of separation distances improve through consistent algorithmic calculations, but device complexity and system infrastructure requirements worsen due to the need for integrated data processing and communication systems
Solution Approach 1:
The wake turbulence separation management system is designed to perform multiple functions within a single integrated platform: it tracks aircraft positions, calculates wake turbulence parameters, determines separation distances, provides real-time alerts to controllers, and records operational data for analysis. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into one unified solution, reducing overall infrastructure complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically retrieves necessary data from existing airport infrastructure (transponders, surface detection systems, weather sensors) without requiring additional specialized equipment. It self-calibrates using standardized wake turbulence models and automatically updates separation calculations as conditions change, reducing the operational burden and complexity of system maintenance while ensuring consistent accurate measurements.
3Reliability
If real-time data processing and visualization are implemented to show wake turbulence locations to pilots, then the likelihood of aircraft being threatened by wake turbulence reduces through informed decision-making, but use of energy and computational resources worsen due to continuous data acquisition, processing, and display updates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements selective real-time processing by focusing computational resources on critical wake turbulence scenarios and aircraft in high-risk situations. For aircraft that have already cleared wake turbulence zones or are operating in low-risk conditions, the system reduces update frequencies and processing intensity. This partial action approach maintains high reliability for aircraft that need it most while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to universal continuous processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic updates with variable frequencies based on risk assessment. Instead of continuous real-time processing for all aircraft, wake turbulence information is updated at intervals that adapt to current conditions - more frequent updates when aircraft are approaching or in wake turbulence zones, and less frequent updates when aircraft are in safe positions. This periodic action maintains safety reliability while optimizing energy usage by avoiding unnecessary continuous processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for indicating wake turbulence on an avionic display. The system comprises a display device that is onboard an aircraft and a controller in communication with the display device. The controller configured to, by a processor: receive data that includes information relating to a wake turbulence generated by another aircraft, determine a location on a runway of the wake turbulence based on the received data, and render a visual element on a display device onboard the aircraft that is in communication with the controller that is configured to display information relating the determined location on the runway of the wake turbulence, wherein the information is displayed in relation to a takeoff environment of the aircraft.