Distributed Flight Management System Bandwidth Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flight management systems for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) face challenges in national airspace due to data bandwidth limitations, data loss, and latency issues, particularly in high-density environments where synchronization of control data is difficult, and wireless links are prone to loss, affecting the reliability and efficiency of flight management.

Innovation Solution

A distributed flight management system with a control station and remotely accessed vehicle configuration, utilizing a communication system and processors to transmit and receive data, prioritize data transmission, and manage link connectivity, ensuring synchronization and reliability even with limited bandwidth and increased latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wireless communication links are used for data transmission between control station and remotely accessed vehicle, then system adaptability and operational flexibility are improved, but data reliability and synchronization accuracy deteriorate due to bandwidth limitations, latency, and link loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoiddata reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the distributed flight management system into multiple independent instances deployed across different platforms (control station, airborne vehicle, ground vehicle). Each instance maintains local state and processes data independently, allowing the system to tolerate communication failures and link losses while maintaining operational flexibility through wireless connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary synchronization actions by establishing initial data consistency between distributed instances before operational use. This includes pre-configuring communication protocols, setting up data exchange formats, and establishing synchronization mechanisms that prepare the system to handle wireless communication challenges proactively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If data transmission bandwidth is increased to improve real-time synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but system complexity and resource requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each distributed instance maintains local data quality and processing capabilities, allowing synchronization to occur at appropriate levels of detail. The system transmits only necessary data elements between instances rather than complete data sets, reducing bandwidth requirements while maintaining synchronization accuracy for critical flight management parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements selective data synchronization, transmitting only the partial set of data elements that are critical for maintaining synchronization accuracy rather than all possible data. This approach achieves adequate synchronization with reduced bandwidth consumption and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If distributed system architecture is implemented to improve accessibility and interoperability, then operational versatility is improved, but data synchronization difficulty worsens due to physical separation and latency

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoidsynchronization difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distributed flight management system implements feedback mechanisms where each instance monitors its local state and communicates status information to other instances. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment and reconciliation of data differences caused by latency and physical separation, maintaining synchronization without requiring complex centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs universal data exchange protocols and standardized communication interfaces that enable different distributed instances (airborne, ground, mobile) to interoperate seamlessly. This multi-functionality approach allows the same synchronization mechanisms to work across diverse platforms and communication channels, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9613536B1Distributed flight management system

Publication Date: 2017.04.04 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

A method for operating a distributed flight management system. The method includes operating a control station instance of the distributed flight management system. The method includes receiving flight management system data from a remotely accessed vehicle. The method includes receiving time-space-position information of the remotely accessed vehicle from the remotely accessed vehicle. The method includes updating the control station instance of the distributed flight management system based at least on the received flight management system data and the time-space-position information of the remotely accessed vehicle. The method includes outputting updated flight management system data for transmission to the remotely accessed vehicle to synchronize a remotely accessed vehicle instance of the distributed flight management system with the control station instance of the distributed flight management system.