Engine-Out Runway Guidance Using Segmented Glide Path Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the event of a complete loss of engine thrust in aircraft, existing systems lack the capability for automated or manual guidance to ensure a controlled landing, as they do not effectively manage the limited kinetic and potential energy available, leading to time constraints for pilots to diagnose and address engine issues.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine a lateral and vertical path comprising a driftdown segment, deceleration segment, and final approach segment, using a processing system to guide the aircraft to a runway, optimizing energy conservation and providing a graphical representation on a display device to assist pilots in navigating the aircraft for a controlled landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automated control system is implemented for aircraft guidance after complete engine thrust loss, then pilot workload is reduced and landing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight path is segmented into three distinct phases: driftdown segment for energy conservation, deceleration segment for speed reduction, and final approach segment for precision landing. Each segment has specific control parameters and objectives, allowing the complex guidance problem to be broken down into manageable sections that can be handled by automated control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates and stores optimal flight paths for all-engine-out scenarios before they are needed. The driftdown, deceleration, and final approach segments are determined in advance based on aircraft energy state, allowing the control system to execute pre-planned guidance rather than computing in real-time during the emergency, reducing computational complexity while maintaining precision.
2Duration of action of moving object
If energy conservation is optimized during driftdown segment, then time aloft is maximized, but flight path length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts flight path parameters including bank angle, pitch attitude, and airspeed to optimize the driftdown trajectory. By changing these parameters, the system maximizes time aloft through efficient energy conservation while managing the flight path length to ensure the aircraft remains within range of the destination runway.
3Reliability
If aircraft speed is reduced to controlled landing speed during deceleration segment, then landing safety is improved, but time to reach final approach increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deceleration segment uses dynamic control of aircraft configuration including flap deployment and gear extension to achieve speed reduction. The system dynamically adjusts drag elements to control the rate of deceleration, balancing the need to reduce speed for safe landing against the time penalty of extended deceleration distance and time.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for determining a lateral and vertical path for aircraft guidance from a current aircraft position to a landing runway following a complete loss of engine thrust includes determining, in a processing system, a final approach segment, a deceleration segment, and a driftdown segment. Connecting, in the processing system, the driftdown segment to the deceleration segment, and the deceleration segment to the final approach segment, to form a complete lateral and vertical path from the current aircraft position to the landing runway. And rendering, on a display device, a graphical representation of the complete lateral and vertical path from the current aircraft position to the landing runway, wherein the graphical representation of the complete lateral and vertical path updates as the aircraft travels.