Emulated Aircraft Advisory Panel Display for Legacy Indicator Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Updating and replacing annunciator panels in aircraft cockpits is challenging due to the need for significant certification work, crew training, and changes to flight manuals and checklists, especially when integrating new systems.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a display, controller, and memory that emulates the view of legacy indicators, receiving status information from existing logic to generate an emulated view, allowing for a centralized status indication using a single display, which can be retrofitted to replace multiple legacy indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single display is used to replace multiple legacy indicators, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but certification work and training requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a graphical user interface that copies the visual appearance and layout of traditional annunciator panels on a digital display. This allows the system to maintain familiar interfaces for pilots while consolidating multiple physical indicators into a single digital display, reducing device complexity while preserving operational familiarity through visual replication
Solution Approach 2:
The single display device is designed to perform multiple functions by displaying different annunciator panel configurations and status indications. The system can replicate various traditional indicator layouts and provide centralized status monitoring, thereby reducing the number of separate components needed while maintaining comprehensive system monitoring capabilities
2Area of stationary object
If multiple legacy indicators are replaced with a single display, then flight display space is preserved, but changes to flight manuals and checklists are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic reconfiguration capabilities where the display can adapt to show different annunciator panel layouts and status indications based on system state and pilot selection. This flexibility allows the interface to evolve and adapt to different operational scenarios without requiring physical reconfiguration, thereby preserving display space while accommodating various monitoring needs
3Ease of operation
If a centralized status indication system is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but integration with existing logic becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an intermediary processing layer that receives signals from multiple aircraft subsystems and translates them into standardized graphical representations on the display. This intermediary layer simplifies integration by providing a universal interface between diverse legacy systems and the centralized display, thereby improving ease of operation while managing integration complexity through standardized communication protocols
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a method for updating a system for providing a centralized status indication of an aircraft. The system includes a plurality of indicators, and the method includes the step of replacing the plurality of indicators with a single display. The display is configured for presenting an emulated view of the plurality of indicators. The next step of the method involves receiving status information for at least one indicator of the plurality of indicators from an existing logic associated with the plurality of indicators. The next step of the method is to display an emulated view of the plurality of indicators. The emulated view includes an icon associated with each indicator of the plurality of indicators, and each icon is placed in a similar geographical location as the associated indicator.