Cockpit Time-Ring Display for Time-Based Aircraft Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face challenges in maintaining required time separations between aircraft during approaches, especially in high-speed flights, as existing systems primarily rely on distance-based information, which can lead to increased workload and reduced capacity in air traffic management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of time rings on an avionic display, which visually represent flight time separation between the ownship and other aircraft, allowing pilots to maintain situational awareness and required time-based separations through visual markers and distance markers, enhancing control and reducing mental calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If distance-based information is used for flight separation monitoring, then pilots can maintain spatial awareness, but pilot workload increases and time-based separation control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional distance-based separation information into time-based separation information by adding a temporal dimension to the display. Time rings are superimposed on the distance-based navigation display, converting spatial measurements into temporal measurements that directly represent time-based separation between aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The time rings act as an intermediary visual element between the pilot and the raw distance data. Instead of requiring pilots to mentally convert distance to time, the time rings provide direct visual representation of time-based separation, mediating the information transformation process.
2Loss of information
If time rings with both distance and time markers are displayed, then time-based separation awareness is improved, but display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the time-based information display with the existing distance-based navigation display by superimposing time rings over the familiar distance rings. This integration allows both distance and time information to be presented simultaneously without requiring separate display systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The time ring display system serves multiple functions: it provides time-based separation information, maintains distance reference through underlying distance rings, and offers visual cues for both temporal and spatial awareness within a single unified display interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for displaying multiple time rings on an avionic display. The method includes displaying at least a first time ring in an avionic display; displaying at least a second time ring in the avionic display wherein the first and second time rings include a pair of visually spaced apart time rings wherein a visual spacing apart between the first and second time rings is indicative of a range and a separation flight time between each of the time rings; and displaying, about at least the first time ring in the avionic display, a distance marker of a value for a range and a time marker of a value for separation flight time about an ownship's position and airspeed, and to at least one time ring.