Cockpit Alignment Symbol for Runway Heading and Track Deviation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cockpit displays lack effective indicators to assist pilots in maintaining alignment of the ownship's track and heading with the runway course, particularly in adverse cross-wind conditions, making it difficult to prevent runway excursions and landing gear damages during landing.
Innovation Solution
A cockpit display system that includes an alignment symbol, a heading bug, and a tracking bug on a zero-pitch reference line, which helps pilots visually align the ownship's heading and track with the runway course by indicating lateral and angular misalignments, allowing for necessary adjustments to be made during landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current cockpit displays are used without alignment symbols, then the display system remains simple, but the pilot cannot effectively maintain alignment of track and heading with runway course in adverse cross-wind conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an alignment symbol as an intermediary visual indicator between the pilot and the complex task of maintaining track and heading alignment. This symbol mediates the alignment process by providing a clear visual reference that simplifies the pilot's workload while improving alignment accuracy during cross-wind conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment symbol provides continuous visual feedback to the pilot about the current alignment status between the ownship's track/heading and the runway course. This feedback mechanism enables the pilot to make real-time adjustments to maintain proper alignment, directly improving reliability without significantly increasing system complexity
2Measurement precision
If no alignment indicator is provided, then the display system remains simple, but the pilot cannot timely detect and correct misalignment during landing approach
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment symbol utilizes color coding (e.g., color bars within the symbol) to indicate different alignment statuses and misalignment magnitudes. This visual encoding makes it easy for the pilot to quickly detect and assess alignment conditions without complex instruments, improving both measurement precision and detection ease
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment symbol is segmented into distinct visual elements (such as color-coded bars representing different parameters) that can be independently interpreted. This segmentation allows the pilot to quickly extract specific alignment information without being overwhelmed by a monolithic display, reducing detection difficulty
3Ease of operation
If the pilot relies on peripheral vision and existing instruments, then the current display system is maintained, but the pilot cannot sufficiently compensate for heading misalignment with runway course
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment symbol serves as a dedicated intermediary aid that supplements existing instruments and peripheral vision techniques. It provides a centralized, easy-to-interpret visual reference that improves ease of operation for alignment control while enhancing landing safety through better situational awareness
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment symbol creates a simplified visual copy or representation of the complex spatial relationship between the ownship's heading/track and the runway course. This copied information is presented in an easily interpretable format that improves pilot control ease and reliability without requiring the pilot to mentally process complex spatial geometry
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and system for use onboard an ownship, the method includes generating on a cockpit display an alignment symbol, track bug, and heading bug to aid to align a track angle and heading of the ownship with a runway course by a pilot; and enabling a pilot to view the alignment symbol, the track bug and the heading bug and to maneuver the ownship to maintain first, an alignment of the heading to the runway course and second, to attempt to align a track angle of the ownship with the runway course by adjustments made to maneuver the ownship in a course of landing by a view of a relative position of each of the alignment symbol, the track bug, and the heading bug to each other to serve as an indicator to the pilot of adjustments needed in the course of landing.