Dynamic Taxi Path Selection for Runway Egress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft pilots face challenges in quickly selecting a safe runway egress due to dynamic operational parameters such as aircraft weight, surface conditions, and speed, which can lead to delayed clearance of the runway, impacting airport efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine acceptable taxi paths based on a taxi destination and operational parameters, allowing for the selection of a primary or secondary taxi path using a dynamic taxi path unit, which includes a taxi destination receiver, acceptable path unit, and taxi selection unit to provide real-time guidance to pilots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pilot manually evaluates multiple operational parameters to select a runway egress, then the safety of taxi path selection is improved, but the time required to clear the runway increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores multiple acceptable taxi paths with their associated operational parameters before the aircraft arrives. When the aircraft lands, the system quickly retrieves and presents the pre-evaluated paths rather than calculating them in real-time, thus maintaining safety while reducing decision time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an automated decision-support system that acts as an intermediary between the complex operational parameters and the pilot. This system processes multiple parameters (aircraft weight, center of gravity, braking performance, turn angle, surface conditions) and presents simplified taxi path options with highlighted primary selections, reducing the cognitive burden on the pilot while maintaining comprehensive safety evaluation
2Reliability
If a pilot refrains from selecting a runway egress until operational parameters are confidently ascertained, then the reliability of the selection is improved, but the productivity of the airport decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors operational parameters and provides feedback to the pilot about which taxi paths are acceptable based on current conditions. The system highlights a primary taxi path selection and indicates when secondary paths become acceptable, enabling the pilot to make timely decisions while maintaining reliability through continuous parameter verification
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes acceptance criteria for multiple taxi paths based on stored operational parameters. When the aircraft lands, the system quickly determines which pre-evaluated paths meet the current operational conditions and presents them immediately, rather than requiring the pilot to manually evaluate each parameter from scratch
3Reliability
If multiple operational parameters are considered for taxi path selection, then the safety and appropriateness of the selection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex parameter evaluation and decision-making process from the pilot's cognitive tasks and transfers it to an automated onboard system. The system handles the complex analysis of multiple parameters (aircraft attributes, runway egress characteristics, surface conditions, weather) while presenting simplified guidance to the pilot, thus improving appropriateness without increasing operational complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for selecting a taxi path by one or more acceptable taxi paths according to a taxi destination. A primary taxi path is selected according to an operation parameter and is made available as an aeronautical pilot aide.