Eyes-Out Taxi Navigation With Conformal Route Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face challenges during taxiing at airports due to complex runways, poor spatial awareness, and increased airport congestion, which can lead to confusion and safety issues, especially in low visibility conditions.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system that provides a conformal taxi route on an eyes-out display, including undercarriage alignment indicators and tactile feedback, to enhance situational awareness and ensure accurate navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilots rely on traditional navigation methods during taxiing, then they can operate without additional equipment, but they experience confusion and reduced safety due to complex runways and poor spatial awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the external scenery displayed on the heads-up display that overlays navigation information onto the pilot's view of the actual environment. This virtual representation provides spatial context and route guidance without requiring the pilot to look away from the external scene, thereby improving safety and spatial awareness during taxiing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The heads-up display acts as an intermediary between the navigation system and the pilot, presenting route information and spatial orientation data in a format that integrates with the pilot's natural line of sight. This intermediary device translates complex navigation data into visual cues that enhance spatial awareness without adding operational complexity
2Ease of operation
If pilots use traditional navigation displays, then the system is simpler, but pilots must look away from external scenery increasing workload and reducing situational awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions navigation information from a two-dimensional flat display to a three-dimensional spatial overlay on the heads-up display. By projecting navigation data into the pilot's field of view at the appropriate spatial dimension, the system maintains situational awareness while managing complexity through intuitive spatial presentation rather than complex interface controls
3Productivity
If airports increase throughput to meet economic demands, then productivity improves, but congestion increases making taxiing more difficult and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system provides continuous feedback to the pilot regarding aircraft position relative to the cleared route, displaying real-time spatial orientation and route guidance on the heads-up display. This feedback mechanism enables precise navigation in congested environments, maintaining safety even as airport throughput increases and taxiing becomes more complex
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assisting a pilot to navigate an aircraft when taxiing is disclosed. A centre line of a route, conformal to outside scenery, is displayed on an eyes out screen associated with the pilot. A pictorial indication of the alignment of the undercarriage with the centre line is displayed on the eyes out screen. Further graphical information related to the navigation is displayed on the eyes out screen.