Dynamic Annotation Hiding in Aircraft Electronic Checklists
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic checklists in aviation present visual clutter due to visible annotations, warnings, and cautions for inactive steps, distracting pilots from pertinent information during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A display system and method that hides annotations, warnings, and task information for inactive steps in electronic checklists based on viewing criteria, using a controller to generate signals for a display unit, allowing dynamic visibility and reducing visual clutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all annotations, warnings, and cautions are visible in the electronic checklist, then complete information is provided to pilots, but visual clutter increases and distracts from pertinent information
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic checklist system dynamically adjusts the visibility of annotations based on the current active step. Annotations for inactive steps are automatically hidden while annotations for the active step remain visible. This dynamic behavior allows the same interface to provide complete information when needed while maintaining visual clarity during normal operation, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different visibility qualities to different parts of the checklist based on their operational state. Active steps display all annotations (notes, warnings, cautions) while inactive steps hide their annotations. This local differentiation ensures that pilots receive complete information for current tasks without being distracted by information from completed or pending tasks, simultaneously achieving information completeness and visual clarity
2Adaptability or versatility
If paper-based checklist format is maintained in electronic version, then familiarity is preserved, but visual clutter from all annotations remains
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains the familiar paper-based checklist layout and structure while introducing dynamic visibility control for annotations. The static format elements (checklist structure, step numbering, annotation positions) preserve familiarity, while the dynamic hiding/showing of annotations based on active step status reduces visual clutter. This combination allows the electronic system to adapt the paper format's strengths while eliminating its weaknesses
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the problematic element (visible annotations for inactive steps) from the traditional checklist format while preserving the overall paper-based layout. By selectively removing annotations for inactive steps while maintaining the familiar checklist structure, the system keeps the adaptable format but eliminates the visual clutter that reduces ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
Display systems, controllers, and methods are provided. A display system for an aircraft includes a display unit, an input device, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled with the display and the input device and is configured to retrieve an electronic checklist that includes a plurality of tasks including an annotated task associated with at least one of a note, a warning, a caution, and task information. The controller is further configured to hide from view the at least one of the note, the warning, the caution, and the task information in an image of the electronic checklist based at least in part on viewing criteria. The controller is further configured to generate a signal that causes the display unit to visually present the image.