Cargo Location and Classification Sensor for Helicopter Sling-Load Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cargo management systems are inefficient in locating and identifying cargo, especially in low-visibility environments, and pose safety risks during sling-load operations due to reliance on human eyesight and prone to communication errors between crew members and pilots.
Innovation Solution
A system that receives location and content information from a cargo location and classification sensor, determines priority listings based on mission information, and transmits waypoints to a control system to maneuver a vehicle above specified cargo, while generating overlays for pilotage systems to assist in cargo pickup, enhancing safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If human eyesight and standard night vision systems are used to locate cargo, then the system complexity is low, but the cargo location efficiency is poor and pilot safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human eyesight and standard night vision systems with a laser radar-based automated detection system. The CLCS uses laser radiation to detect cargo locations and generate spatial maps, substituting manual visual search with automated optical sensing and processing, thereby dramatically improving cargo location efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through integrated sensor-fusion architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the helicopter to locate and identify cargo autonomously without requiring crew members to manually search or communicate cargo positions. The CLCS automatically detects cargo, the cargo management system processes location data, and the system generates guidance information, allowing the vehicle to service its own cargo location needs independently.
2Reliability
If crew members manually locate and identify cargo using verbal commands, then the equipment cost is low, but communication errors increase and safety risks are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual crew communication with an automated digital communication system. The CLCS detects cargo locations and the cargo management system automatically processes this data to generate precise guidance information transmitted to the pilot display, eliminating verbal commands and their associated communication errors while maintaining system reliability through automated data processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cargo management system acts as an intermediary between the CLCS sensor and the pilot. It receives raw sensor data, processes location and priority information, and presents refined guidance to the pilot, mediating the information flow and eliminating direct crew-to-pilot verbal communication that causes errors.
3Loss of time
If the helicopter maneuvers to locate cargo without automated guidance, then the operational procedure is simple, but the time to deliver time-sensitive cargo increases
Solution Approach 1:
The CLCS performs preliminary detection and mapping of cargo locations before the helicopter begins its delivery mission. The system pre-processes spatial information and generates priority lists, so when the helicopter needs to locate cargo, the information is already prepared and available, significantly reducing the time to deliver time-sensitive cargo while the automated nature maintains operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback to the pilot through the display system, showing cargo locations, priorities, and guidance information. This feedback loop allows the pilot to quickly identify and navigate to time-sensitive cargo without complex manual procedures, reducing delivery time while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive information presentation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for use in locating and prioritizing cargo are provided. The system includes a communications unit configured to receive location information and content information for each of a plurality of pieces of cargo from a cargo location and classification sensor (CLCS). The system also includes a cargo pickup planner module configured to determine a priority listing of pieces of cargo based on mission information, the location information, and the content information. The system also includes a cargo approach planner module configured to transmit a set of waypoints for specified pieces of cargo selected from the priority listing to a control system (FCS) configured to maneuver a vehicle to a position above a specified piece of cargo. The system further includes a cargo pickup overlay generator module configured to generate an overlay for a pilotage system (PS) display to assist a user in maneuvering the vehicle above each piece of cargo for pickup.