Dynamic Prohibited Zone System for Aircraft Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) lack the precision and flexibility to handle large-scale volumetric obstacles, leading to overly broad prohibited flight zones and inability to adapt safety distances based on aircraft type and operational conditions, particularly in situations like hijacking or equipment failure.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for dynamically defining and updating prohibited zones based on aircraft type and operational situation, using three-dimensional geometry and access criteria to tailor safety distances and restrict access to specific zones, allowing for nested protection zones and integration with autopilot systems for enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current TAWS systems use fixed prohibited zones based on simplified obstacle models, then system complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and manufacturing precision of safety zones deteriorate, resulting in overly broad prohibited areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single fixed prohibited zone into multiple nested zones (first prohibited zone, second prohibited zone, etc.) with different radii and access conditions. Each zone is associated with specific aircraft types or operational situations, allowing precise control over which aircraft can approach which zone. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining system simplicity through modular zone definitions while achieving high precision in safety zone enforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic updating of prohibited zones based on real-time aircraft characteristics and operational situations. The system dynamically determines which prohibited zone applies to each aircraft type (e.g., airliners, light aircraft, helicopters) and updates the active prohibited zone accordingly. This dynamic approach maintains ease of operation through automated determination while achieving measurement precision by tailoring safety distances to specific aircraft capabilities and situations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If current TAWS systems use uniform safety distances for all aircraft, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different aircraft types and operational situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different access conditions to different prohibited zones based on local requirements. Each zone has its own radius, uncertainty parameters, and aircraft type restrictions. For example, the first prohibited zone may restrict all aircraft, while the second zone allows helicopters but restricts airliners. This local differentiation achieves high adaptability to various aircraft types while managing complexity through a structured, rule-based approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal prohibited zone management system that handles multiple aircraft types (airliners, light aircraft, helicopters), multiple operational situations (normal operation, equipment failure, hijacking), and multiple zone configurations through a single integrated framework. The system universally applies the same zone definition and access determination logic across all scenarios, achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If current TAWS systems prohibit all aircraft from approaching obstacles, then flight safety is improved, but loss of useful action increases due to unnecessary restrictions on aircraft that could safely approach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of prohibited zones dynamically based on aircraft type and operational situation. Instead of a fixed uniform restriction, the system adjusts the applicable zone radius, uncertainty parameters, and access conditions according to the specific aircraft characteristics. For example, helicopters with different performance characteristics receive different access authorizations to the same obstacle zones. This parameter adaptation maintains high flight safety by enforcing appropriate restrictions while reducing loss of useful action by allowing aircraft that can safely approach to do so.
4Reliability
If current TAWS systems use large safety distances to account for volumetric obstacles, then reliability is improved, but volume of prohibited zones increases, restricting legitimate flight paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the volumetric obstacle protection into multiple concentric prohibited zones with different radii and access conditions. Instead of using a single large safety distance that creates an excessively large prohibited volume, the system divides protection into a first prohibited zone with larger radius for high-risk aircraft and a second prohibited zone with smaller radius for lower-risk aircraft. This segmentation maintains reliability by ensuring appropriate safety distances for each aircraft type while reducing the overall volume of prohibited zones by allowing legitimate flight paths in outer regions for authorized aircraft.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device and method for dynamically updating prohibited flying areas on a flying aircraft board. The inventive method consists in defining the geometry of restricted areas and the entry conditions thereto depending on the aircraft, in characterising the aircraft with respect to the conditions for entering said areas and in determining the flying areas prohibited for the aircraft. Said invention can be used for aeronautics.