Aircraft Black Box Cloud Storage for Real-Time Crash Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft black boxes are prone to delays in recovery and data accessibility after crashes, leading to delayed rescue operations and analysis, and there is a need for a system that enables immediate investigation and quick corrective actions.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based server system that hosts information from the aircraft's black box, transmitting data in real-time via satellite communication to a secure cloud-based data center for immediate storage and analysis, enabling seamless data access and quick corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If physical black boxes are used for storing flight data, then data storage is achieved, but recovery time is delayed and data accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously transmitting flight data to a remote server during normal operations. This proactive data transfer ensures that flight information is already available in a secure location before any accident occurs, eliminating the need for physical recovery and enabling immediate access to data when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A remote server acts as an intermediary between the aircraft's black box and investigators. Instead of requiring direct physical access to the black box on the aircraft, the server mediates data access by receiving, storing, and providing flight data remotely, thus improving accessibility without compromising data integrity.
2Reliability
If physical black boxes are used for storing flight data, then data storage is achieved, but risk of damage in crashes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the critical function of data storage from the physical black box on the aircraft and relocates it to a remote server. By separating the data storage function from the aircraft environment, the system eliminates the risk of crash damage to stored data while maintaining continuous data availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates continuous copies of flight data and transmits them to a remote server. Instead of relying on a single physical storage device that could be damaged, multiple copies are maintained in a secure remote location, ensuring data survival even if the original black box is damaged or lost.
3Loss of time
If real-time data transmission is implemented, then immediate access to flight data is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses universal communication protocols and standard satellite communication infrastructure to transmit data. By leveraging existing multi-functional communication systems already present in modern aircraft, the solution achieves real-time data transmission without adding significant complexity, as the same communication systems serve multiple purposes including navigation, weather, and data transmission.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates immediate investigation and quick corrective actions by providing real-time access to critical flight data, enhancing safety and reducing recovery delays.
Implementation Method 1
a communication module housed inside the control module for transmitting the data captured by the control module to a cloud-based data center through a satellite communication channel in real-time
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a novel cloud-based server storage system for aircrafts' black box data. The cloud-based server is connected to the black box of aircrafts via a secure satellite communication channel for receiving black box data in real-time. The received black box data is securely stored in a memory module of the server along with identifying information including, but not limited to, aircraft tail number, flight number, timestamp, and more. In some embodiments, the system compares the black box data with baseline metrics for identifying distress conditions in the aircraft for enabling authorities to take quick corrective actions. In some embodiments, an alert is generated and transmitted to a cockpit and to authorities (i.e., air traffic control). The data is securely transmitted between the aircraft and the cloud-based server.