Cockpit Access Security System Using Aircraft State Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft cockpit access security systems are vulnerable to hacking and fail to prevent unauthorized access or lockout of authorized personnel, particularly during flight operations and crew changes, and do not accommodate easy unregistering of personnel.
Innovation Solution
A cockpit access security system that uses a lock controller interfacing with on-board sensor subsystems to control access based on aircraft state, allowing changes to the record of authorized personnel only when the aircraft is on the ground and engines are off, and includes an override mechanism to prevent external unlocking from within the cockpit, ensuring only the pilot and co-pilot can lock out others during flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a biometrically actuated lock or flight controls are used to ensure secure access to the cockpit, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to hacking to change the biometrics or passcode authorization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a physical key required in combination with biometric authentication. This dual-factor approach means that even if biometric data is hacked or compromised, unauthorized access cannot be obtained without the physical key, thereby mitigating the vulnerability to hacking while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the authentication parameters from relying solely on biometric data to requiring both biometric data and a physical key. This parameter change transforms the security model from a single-point-of-failure system to a multi-factor authentication system, reducing the impact of potential hacking of biometric databases
2Reliability
If a lock system with authorized personnel records is used, then access control is improved, but authorized personnel may be locked out from inside the cockpit during flight
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-authorizing flight crew members before flight based on their assigned roles. The authorized personnel record is pre-populated with crew members who will be flying, ensuring they can access the cockpit during flight without needing to be physically present for registration
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts access rules based on flight status. During flight, the system allows authorized personnel to access the cockpit even if the door is locked from inside, whereas on the ground, standard locking protocols apply. This dynamic behavior ensures operational flexibility while maintaining security
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual registration and unregistering of authorized personnel is required, then flexibility in personnel management is improved, but the process becomes complex and error-prone during crew changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service functionality by automatically registering and unregistering personnel based on flight data. When flight information is uploaded, the system automatically identifies crew members and updates the authorized personnel record, eliminating manual intervention and reducing errors associated with manual registration processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from flight data uploads to automatically update personnel records. The upload process provides feedback about who should be authorized, and the system automatically adjusts the authorized personnel list accordingly, simplifying the complexity of personnel management during crew changes
4Ease of operation
If the authorized personnel record is continuously accessible for changes, then ease of personnel updates is improved, but the risk of unauthorized changes and hacking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by blocking access to the authorized personnel record during flight and automatically locking the record when the aircraft is in flight mode. This prevents unauthorized changes during critical operational periods while still allowing updates when the aircraft is on the ground under controlled conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A cockpit access security system controls changes to a record of personnel authorized to access the cockpit by reference to the state of the aircraft as determined by a plurality of on-board sensors indicating the state of particular aircraft subsystems.