Database Driven Taxiway Input Interface for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face difficulties in entering taxi route instructions dictated by air traffic control into aircraft navigation systems due to the fast pace of verbal instructions, often requiring manual note-taking and subsequent input, which increases workload and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A database-driven input system for aircraft, utilizing a portable electronic device with a processor, memory, and communication systems to generate a dynamic taxiway input interface, including a touchscreen or keyboard, that allows real-time entry of taxi route instructions while disabling unnecessary keys and providing autocomplete suggestions based on airport data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pilots manually write down taxi route instructions and then input them into the navigation system, then accuracy of entry is improved, but time consumption and workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads the complete airport taxiway database into the portable electronic device before the pilot needs to enter instructions. This preliminary preparation allows the device to instantly access and validate taxiway information during the brief moment when the pilot hears the ATC instruction, eliminating the need for manual note-taking and subsequent lookup while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical process of manually writing down instructions and then typing them into a system with an electronic device that automatically captures, validates, and processes the taxi route information. The portable electronic device with touchscreen interface substitutes the paper-and-pencil mechanical system, reducing both time and potential for error.
2Productivity
If pilots attempt to enter taxi route instructions in real-time during verbal communication with air traffic control, then time efficiency is improved, but accuracy and error rate worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides immediate feedback to the pilot as they enter or select taxiway instructions. The portable electronic device validates each input against the pre-loaded database, providing visual confirmation of correct entries and alerting the pilot to any errors or invalid taxiway selections in real-time, thereby maintaining high accuracy during efficient real-time operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface of the portable electronic device is designed to be dynamic and adaptive during use. The touchscreen display can show different information based on the current state of input, highlighting valid taxiway options, automatically suggesting next steps based on the current position in the route, and adjusting the level of guidance provided to the pilot based on the complexity of the instruction being entered.
3Device complexity
If a traditional fixed interface is used for entering taxi route instructions, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different input methods and scenarios worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The portable electronic device serves multiple functions within a single unified interface. It can display visual maps of the airport, provide tactile feedback through the touchscreen, offer audio guidance, and automatically process different types of ATC instructions (taxiway assignments, route clearances, hold short instructions). This multi-functionality maintains relative simplicity while greatly enhancing adaptability to various input scenarios and pilot preferences.
Data Source
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AI summary
A database driven input system and a method for operating the same are provided. The database driven input system, for example, may include, but is not limited to, a memory configured to store a database comprising airport information, a touchscreen display, and a processor communicatively coupled to the touchscreen display and the database system, the processor configured to generate a database driven taxiway input interface comprising a database driven keyboard input interface, the database driven keyboard input interface comprising a smart keyboard configured to prevent invalid input based upon the airport information in the database, display the database driven taxiway input interface on the touchscreen display, receive an input from the touchscreen display, and dynamically update the database driven keyboard input interface based upon the input to the touchscreen display.