Aircraft Ejection Seat Auto-Configuration From Aircrew Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ejection systems for aircraft require manual adjustment of settings during pre-flight checks, which is time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

An automatic adjustment system for aircraft ejection systems using a controller with input devices such as microphones, image sensors, and electronic ports to detect user inputs and retrieve specific settings from a database for optimal configuration based on user identifiers, adjusting settings like parachute deployment timing, seat position, and ejection sequence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual adjustment of ejection system settings is used during pre-flight checks, then each setting can be individually adjusted, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveManual adjustment capabilityVSAvoidPre-flight preparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically retrieves and applies ejection system settings based on user identifiers (e.g., pilot credentials) without requiring manual adjustment. The controller autonomously configures parameters such as parachute deployment timing, seat position, and ejection sequence by querying a database using the identified user's profile, thereby eliminating time-consuming manual operations while maintaining personalized configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If automatic adjustment system with multiple input devices is implemented, then pre-flight preparation time is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePre-flight preparation timeVSAvoidSystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions: it identifies the user through various input devices (microphone for voice recognition, image sensor for facial recognition or credential verification, electronic port for digital credential input), retrieves settings from a database, and automatically configures the ejection system. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated controller, managing complexity while enabling automatic adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If personalized settings retrieval based on user identifiers is implemented, then ejection system optimization is improved, but measurement and detection requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSettings configuration precisionVSAvoidUser identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs multiple input devices that provide feedback mechanisms for user identification: microphones capture voice patterns, image sensors capture visual identifiers, and electronic ports verify digital credentials. These feedback loops ensure accurate user identification by validating multiple data points before retrieving and applying the correct personalized ejection system settings from the database, thereby maintaining high precision in settings configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3974321B1Automatic ejection seat performance and accommodation optimization based on active input of aircrew data
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 AMI IND INC
  • EP3974321B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3974321B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3974321B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A system for automatic optimization of an ejection system for an aircraft includes the ejection system having a plurality of adjustable settings. The system further includes an input device (306, 308, 310, 312) configured to receive user input. The system further includes a controller (302) coupled to the ejection system and to the input device and configured to adjust at least one of the plurality of the adjustable settings of the ejection system based on the user input.