Adaptable Touchscreen Boom Pod Interface for In-Flight Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current boom pods for in-flight refueling operations lack flexibility and situational awareness due to cluttered control surfaces with unnecessary physical knobs and switches, leading to potential user errors.
Innovation Solution
A boom pod with an adaptable user interface that automatically reconfigures based on operational phases and allows manual customization, featuring touch-sensitive displays, augmented reality overlays, and automated system status logging to enhance operator efficiency and reduce clutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical knobs and switches are provided for each control function, then control precision is improved, but device complexity and control surface clutter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical knobs and switches with a touchscreen display that presents virtual representations of control elements. The touchscreen interface allows operators to interact with control functions through graphical user interface elements rather than physical mechanical controls, thereby reducing physical clutter while maintaining control precision through digital representation and control mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all control functions are always displayed, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to information overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic user interface that automatically reconfigures based on the operational phase of the refueling operation. The system transitions between different operational phases (e.g., approach, connection, refueling, disconnection) and selectively displays control elements and information relevant to the current phase, thereby maintaining adaptability while reducing operator workload by filtering out irrelevant controls during each phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The control interface is segmented into phase-specific control sets rather than presenting all controls simultaneously. Each operational phase has its own customized control panel that displays only the controls and information necessary for that phase, allowing the system to maintain versatility across different phases while improving ease of operation by reducing information overload at any given moment.
3Reliability
If physical controls are used, then reliability is improved through tactile feedback, but adaptability deteriorates due to fixed control configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The touchscreen display serves multiple functions that would traditionally require separate physical controls. The same touchscreen interface handles display, input, configuration, and control functions across all operational phases, allowing the system to adapt to different phases and operator preferences while maintaining reliability through consistent digital control mechanisms and confirmation protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The control configuration is made dynamic and reconfigurable based on operational phase and operator preference. The system allows operators to customize the arrangement and visibility of control elements on the touchscreen, providing adaptability and flexibility while maintaining reliability through digital confirmation mechanisms and phase-appropriate control restrictions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A boom pod (200) with an adaptable user interface (300, 400, 500, 600, 700) automatically reconfigures based on operation phase. Elements of the user interface (300, 400, 500, 600, 700) may also be manually reconfigured based on operator preference. Operator reconfigurations may be recorded for use during similar phases in subsequent operations. A controller automatically records system status during a refueling operation and prepares a digital log entry. Portions of the use interface are dedicated to augmented displays (104, 208) to assist the operator at any given operational phase.