Aircraft Cockpit Data Entry Validation with Haptic Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft pilots face increased workload and error likelihood when receiving verbal instructions that require both vocal responses and manual data entry, as they must correctly hear, interpret, and set new flight headings, which can lead to inconsistencies and errors.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for validating messaging and data entry in an aircraft cockpit, utilizing a processor to verify vocal responses and provide haptic feedback to ensure accurate manual entry of settings, including the use of voice recognition and haptic feedback generators to guide pilots in setting target values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pilots manually enter settings based on verbal instructions, then data entry capability is maintained, but error rate increases due to increased workload and cognitive load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata entry accuracyVSAvoidpilot workload
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback to the pilot by comparing the manually entered value against the target value extracted from the verbal instruction. When a mismatch is detected, the system generates an alert, enabling the pilot to correct errors immediately. This feedback mechanism directly addresses the reliability issue by catching errors before they become critical, while the automated comparison reduces the cognitive load on the pilot.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary validation layer between the pilot's manual input and the final system state. This intermediary automatically compares the entered value with the intended target value, acting as a safety check that prevents erroneous data entry. This mediator reduces pilot workload by handling the verification task automatically, allowing the pilot to focus on flight operations while maintaining high data entry accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the system validates both vocal responses and manual entries, then error detection capability improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection accuracyVSAvoidvalidation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The validation system is segmented into distinct functional modules: one module extracts target values from verbal instructions, another module captures manual pilot input, and a third module performs the comparison and generates alerts. This segmentation allows each component to be independently developed, tested, and maintained, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high error detection accuracy through specialized functionality in each module.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2849169B1Messaging and data entry validation system and method for aircraft
Publication Date: 2016.10.05 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP2849169B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2849169B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A system and method for validating data entry in response to an instruction received in an aircraft cockpit includes receiving, in an aircraft cockpit, an instruction that requires an aircraft pilot to manually enter a target value into an avionics system using an avionics system user interface. The received instruction is processed to determine the target value that should be set by the aircraft pilot using the avionics system user interface. Haptic feedback is to the avionics system user interface during the manual entry by the aircraft pilot.