Cockpit Light Bar Obstacle Depiction for Low-Altitude Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft traffic displays do not depict ground-based obstacles such as wires, towers, buildings, or drones, which are crucial for pilots during low-altitude flights, requiring a simple and non-distracting visual indication.
Innovation Solution
A cockpit system using a light bar to display detected obstacles with varying alert factors like color, width, and brightness based on urgency and relative location, ordered by priority for clear pilot awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a traffic display is used to show other aircraft, then pilots can be aware of air traffic, but ground-based obstacles such as wires, towers, buildings, or drones are not indicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines air traffic display and ground obstacle display into a single integrated light bar system. The light bar receives inputs from both traffic collision avoidance systems and ground obstacle detection systems, merging multiple information sources into one unified visual interface that presents both types of obstacles along a common horizon line.
Solution Approach 2:
The light bar serves multiple functions: it displays air traffic information, ground-based obstacles, and prioritized obstacle alerts simultaneously. By making the display system multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate displays for different types of obstacles, thereby reducing overall system complexity while improving information completeness.
2Loss of information
If detailed obstacle information is provided to pilots, then situational awareness is improved, but distraction from primary flight tasks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different visual characteristics to different obstacles based on their urgency and type. High-priority obstacles are displayed with prominent features such as brighter lights or specific color coding, while lower-priority obstacles use less conspicuous displays. This localized differentiation allows pilots to quickly identify critical threats without being overwhelmed by uniform detailed information about all obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system segments obstacle information into priority levels, presenting only the most critical obstacles in prominent positions on the light bar. By segmenting the information hierarchy, the system provides essential obstacle awareness while filtering out less urgent details that would contribute to pilot distraction and increased workload.
3Loss of information
If multiple obstacles are displayed simultaneously, then comprehensive situational awareness is achieved, but information processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-processes and prioritizes obstacle information before presentation to the pilot. By预先 ordering obstacles according to their urgency and threat level, the system prepares the information in an optimal sequence for pilot consumption, reducing the cognitive processing time required during critical moments while maintaining comprehensive obstacle coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color variations to encode different priority levels and types of obstacles. This visual coding allows pilots to rapidly categorize and understand multiple obstacles simultaneously without requiring detailed analysis of each one, significantly reducing information processing time while maintaining comprehensive situational awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of alerting a pilot of an aircraft are provided. The method includes obtaining a track list of detected objects; for each detected object, determining a first alert factor based on a rate of closure to the aircraft and determining a second alert factor based on an azimuth. An alert list is created including each of the detected objects along with its corresponding first and second alert factors. The alert list is ordered in an order of priority, and the alerts are displayed on a light bar disposed in a cockpit of the aircraft.