Rotorcraft EGPWS Proactive Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots of rotorcrafts may not realize the need to switch the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) to desensitized mode until an alert is triggered, leading to high workload and nuisance alerts, especially in congested areas or low altitudes.
Innovation Solution
An avionic system that retrieves terrain and obstacle data along the rotorcraft's flight path, evaluates variations in elevation, and prompts the pilot to switch the EGPWS to desensitized mode proactively, reducing the risk of nuisance alerts by suggesting the mode change before encountering potentially alert-triggering situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the EGPWS operates in normal mode with standard alert thresholds, then the system provides reliable terrain and obstacle warning, but it triggers nuisance alerts in congested areas or low altitude operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of terrain and obstacle data along the predicted flight path before the aircraft actually encounters potential conflict zones. By analyzing elevation variations ahead of time and proactively prompting the pilot to switch to desensitized mode, the system prevents nuisance alerts from being generated in the first place, rather than reacting after thresholds are violated
2Device complexity
If the desensitized mode switch is placed on a multi-function display in a sub-menu, then the cockpit layout is simplified and modernized, but the switch becomes harder to access and pilots may not find it quickly when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively prompts the pilot to switch to desensitized mode before the aircraft enters a situation that would trigger a nuisance alert. By providing advance notice and guidance on how to access the desensitized mode switch (whether physical or on the multi-function display), the system reduces the time and effort required for the pilot to locate and activate the switch when needed
3Adaptability or versatility
If pilots manually monitor terrain and obstacle conditions, then they can control when desensitized mode is activated, but the workload increases significantly when dealing with EGPWS alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors terrain and obstacle data along the predicted flight path and provides real-time feedback to the pilot about upcoming elevation variations that may trigger nuisance alerts. This automated feedback loop reduces the pilot's manual monitoring burden by highlighting critical areas on the flight path, allowing pilots to make informed decisions about mode switching without constantly analyzing raw terrain data
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of terrain and obstacle conditions along the predicted flight path and proactively prompts the pilot to switch to desensitized mode before potential conflict zones are encountered. This advance warning system reduces immediate pilot workload by handling the analysis and recommendation functions, allowing pilots to focus on actual flight control rather than manual terrain monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
An avionic system for a rotorcraft includes a data source and an enhanced ground proximity warning system. The data source has terrain data and obstacle data stored therein. The enhanced ground proximity warning system can be selectively switched, by a pilot, to operate in either a normal mode or a desensitized mode. The enhanced ground proximity warning system receives flight data, retrieves terrain data and obstacle data from the data source, evaluates the retrieved terrain data and the obstacle data to determine variations in elevations of terrain and obstacles in predetermined area that is a predetermined distance ahead of the current position and along the flight path, and based at least in part on the determined variations, selectively generate a prompt that suggests that the pilot switch the ground proximity warning system to the desensitized mode.