Dynamic Primary Flight Display Clutter Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Primary flight displays become cluttered with increasing information, hindering pilots' ability to extract critical data, especially in displays overlaying symbology onto external scene images, leading to occlusion and complacency issues.
Innovation Solution
A flight display system that dynamically removes and reinstates analog indicators of airspeed and altitude based on steady flight conditions, using a processor to process flight plan and aircraft status data, and employs visual attention techniques like fade-in and fade-out to manage clutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If more information is depicted on primary flight displays, then information completeness is improved, but display clutter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the display elements adaptive and changeable based on flight conditions. The system dynamically adjusts the presentation of flight information (such as altitude and airspeed indicators) based on whether the aircraft is in steady flight or maneuvering conditions, allowing the display to optimize between information completeness and clutter reduction in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the display information into different formats and prioritizations. By dividing the information presentation into primary and secondary elements, and by using different visual representations (digital vs. analog, symbolic vs. graphical), the system manages information density while maintaining completeness
2Loss of information
If symbology is overlaid onto external scene images, then situational awareness is improved, but occlusion of critical information occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adjusting the display characteristics in different regions of the display based on local conditions. The system modifies symbology presentation, size, and positioning locally depending on the flight phase and external scene content, ensuring critical information remains visible while maintaining situational awareness
3Loss of information
If display clutter increases, then information completeness is improved, but pilot reaction time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by rhythmically adjusting the display based on flight conditions. During steady flight conditions, the system simplifies the display by removing certain indicators, and during maneuvering conditions, it restores them. This periodic adaptation reduces unnecessary clutter during stable phases while maintaining information availability during critical phases
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares the display in advance by predicting flight condition changes and adjusting symbology presentation proactively. By anticipating transitions between steady and maneuvering flight, the display can be optimized before critical moments occur, reducing pilot reaction time
4Reliability
If critical performance parameters are continuously displayed, then monitoring capability is improved, but pilot complacency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the display of critical performance parameters adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts which parameters are displayed and how they are presented based on flight conditions, preventing pilots from becoming complacent by varying the display according to actual operational needs
Data Source
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AI summary
Improved systems and methods for dynamic readouts on a primary flight display are provided. The system includes a computer system configured to receive and process aircraft status data and flight plan data to command a display system to overlay on the image, (i) an analog indicator of the airspeed, (ii) an analog indicator of altitude, (iii) a digital airspeed indicator, and (iv) a digital altitude indicator. The system continuously determines whether steady flight conditions are occurring. Steady flight conditions include one or both of: constant airspeed and constant rate of change of airspeed. When the steady flight conditions are occurring, (i) and (ii) are removed from the image. When the steady flight conditions are no longer occurring, (i) and (ii) again overlaid on the image.