Air Traffic Control Terminal with Eye-Tracking Tablet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air traffic control operator terminals face difficulties in simplifying operator interactions and reducing installation space, especially in constrained environments like aircraft, due to complex man/machine interfaces and the need for multiple input devices.
Innovation Solution
The terminal incorporates a touch-sensitive tablet and an eye tracker to switch between traffic management and data entry modes based on the operator's gaze, using eye position detection to control the touchpad's operation, highlighting entered data, adjusting display brightness, and triggering alerts to enhance usability and reduce space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional man/machine interface means (mouse, keyboard, navigation ball) are used, then data entry and traffic management functions are available, but the device complexity increases and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple interface functions (traffic management, data entry, display control) into a single touch-sensitive tablet. The eye tracker detects operator gaze to automatically switch between operational modes, eliminating the need for separate mice, keyboards, and navigation devices. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive touch and gaze-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-sensitive tablet serves multiple functions: it acts as a display, input device for traffic management, data entry interface, and control mechanism for display parameters. The eye tracker adds gaze-based control capability, enabling the tablet to adapt its operational mode based on operator attention. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate interface devices needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple input devices (mouse, keyboard, navigation ball) are installed, then comprehensive control functions are available, but the installation space requirements increase in constrained environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple input devices into a single touch-sensitive tablet that supports both touch gestures and gaze-based control. This integration maintains comprehensive control functions for traffic management and data entry while reducing the installation footprint, making the system suitable for constrained environments like mobile carriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical input devices (mouse, keyboard, navigation ball) with a touch-sensitive tablet controlled by eye movements and touch gestures. This substitution eliminates the physical space required for multiple separate mechanical devices while maintaining full control functionality through software-based interaction modes.
3Ease of operation
If gaze tracking is used to switch between operational modes, then operator interaction is simplified, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The eye tracker serves as an intermediary that detects operator gaze and automatically triggers mode switching on the touch-sensitive tablet. This intermediary function simplifies operator interaction by eliminating manual mode switching, while the automation of this function prevents significant increases in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the operator's natural gaze direction to automatically determine and switch between operational modes without requiring manual intervention. The touch-sensitive tablet self-adjusts its functionality based on detected eye position, making the system adaptive to operator needs while maintaining simplicity of use.
Data Source
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AI summary
This air traffic control operator terminal, of the type comprising means for displaying air traffic information (1) and means forming a man-machine interface (2) available to the operator, notably for managing the traffic and for operating the terminal, is characterized in that the means that form the man-machine interface further comprise a touch-sensitive tablet (3) and an occulometer (4) for detecting the position of the eyes of the operator in order to control a switchover in the operation of the touch-sensitive tablet (3) between a first mode of operation for managing traffic and for operating the terminal using operator input on the touch-sensitive tablet (3), and a second mode of operation whereby the operator (3) inputs data, when the eyes of the operator leave the information display means (1) to look at the touch-sensitive tablet (3).