Aircraft Climb Profile Updating Using Energy-Based Deviation Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight management systems (FMS) are limited by their reliance on outdated programming techniques that assume constant values for aircraft performance characteristics, leading to inefficiencies in climb profiles that do not adequately account for altitude constraints, resulting in increased fuel consumption and operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize nonlinear programming to determine an updated climb profile by selecting a deviation point and repeatedly calculating subsequent climb models based on successive aircraft energy levels, ensuring the climb profile satisfies altitude constraints, thereby optimizing the flight path and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If prior FMS use constant values for aircraft performance characteristics, then the system is simple to operate, but the climb profile efficiency deteriorates and fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts climb profile parameters based on real-time aircraft energy levels and changing flight conditions, replacing static constant values with dynamic calculations that optimize fuel efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes performance parameters from fixed constants to variable values that are continuously updated based on aircraft state, allowing the climb profile to adapt to varying energy levels and environmental conditions, thereby reducing fuel consumption without complicating operation
2Device complexity
If prior FMS assume constant aircraft performance characteristics, then the programming is simple, but the climb profile fails to satisfy altitude constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic recalculation of climb profiles based on successive aircraft energy levels, enabling the program to adapt to changing conditions and reliably satisfy altitude constraints while maintaining manageable complexity through structured iterative computation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary deviation point selection and constraint checking before finalizing the climb profile, allowing the program to proactively identify and correct potential constraint violations, thereby ensuring reliability without excessive programming complexity
3Ease of operation
If the initial climb profile is used without deviation, then the flight path is simple to follow, but the altitude climb constraint is not satisfied
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of the initial climb profile against altitude constraints and automatically selects deviation points when constraints would be violated, maintaining flight path simplicity by only introducing deviations when necessary and by automated calculation rather than pilot intervention
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system of determining or predicting a climb profile for an aircraft, includes receiving, by a controller module, an initial climb profile defining a portion of a flight plan for the aircraft between takeoff and a cruise profile, and an altitude climb constraint defining at least one altitude limitation of the aircraft, determining, by the controller module, that the initial climb profile does not satisfy the altitude constraint, and determining an updated climb profile based on a set of subsequent climb models.