Cloud Flight Management System Reducing Onboard Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing flight management systems (FMS) in aircraft are limited by rigid hardware and software updates, which restrict flexibility and require large onboard storage, limiting the aircraft's operational flexibility and scheduling capabilities due to the growth of navigation databases and the inability to easily incorporate technological advancements.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based flight management system that utilizes reliable wireless communication networks to enable real-time updates and reduce onboard storage needs, allowing aircraft to access and update navigation data and software remotely, thereby eliminating the need for extensive onboard data storage and enabling flexible scheduling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the FMC stores large navigation databases onboard, then the aircraft can operate independently without continuous ground support, but the onboard storage capacity and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the navigation database from the airborne FMC and relocates it to a ground-based FMS. The aircraft FMC becomes a thin client that accesses the database remotely via wireless communication, eliminating the need for large onboard storage while maintaining operational independence through continuous connectivity to the ground-based system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication network as an intermediary between the aircraft FMC and the ground-based FMS. This mediator enables real-time data exchange, allowing the aircraft to access navigation databases and receive updates without physical storage capacity constraints on board the aircraft.
2Reliability
If the FMS uses sealed hardware and software for certification, then regulatory compliance is ensured, but the system cannot be easily updated with new technologies or data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the FMS into two distinct parts: a certified, sealed FMC onboard the aircraft that maintains regulatory compliance, and a flexible, updatable ground-based FMS that can incorporate new technologies. This segmentation allows each component to serve its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the traditionally static, sealed FMS into a dynamic system where the ground-based FMS can be continuously updated with new navigation data, algorithms, and technologies. The airborne FMC remains sealed for certification but dynamically receives updates via wireless communication, enabling the system to evolve without compromising regulatory compliance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the navigation database covers extensive geographical areas, then the aircraft can operate in more regions, but the database size and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the entire navigation database from the aircraft and relocates it to the ground-based FMS. The aircraft FMC accesses the comprehensive database remotely, eliminating the trade-off between database size and onboard storage capacity. The aircraft can access any geographical coverage available on the ground-based system without increasing onboard hardware requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing a cloud-based flight management system (FMS) may include receiving an input to a flight management computer (FMC) client in an airborne aircraft indicative of a need for FMS data, communicating a request for the FMS data to a FMS management module located remotely from the airborne aircraft via a wireless communication network, receiving a response to the request at the FMC client of the airborne aircraft via the wireless communication network, and, based on the response, generating an output on the airborne aircraft via the FMC client.