Flight Chart Conversion Pipeline for Low-Memory Avionics Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aeronautical charts in PDF format need to be converted for use in aircraft computing devices with limited processing and memory capacity, requiring an efficient conversion system to facilitate easy retrieval and display on aircraft displays.
Innovation Solution
A flight chart conversion system processes PDF flight charts into a condensed set of binary images and metadata using a host computing device, generating aircraft display hardware directives that are efficiently displayed on aircraft displays, conserving processing and memory resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PDF flight charts are converted to graphical format for use in flight displays, then the charts become usable in aircraft systems, but the processing and memory resources of the aircraft computing device are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The flight chart data is divided into multiple layers (e.g., terrain layer, navigation aids layer, airspace layer), allowing the system to load and process only the necessary layers for current flight phase rather than the entire chart dataset, thereby reducing memory and processing resource consumption while maintaining full chart functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Flight charts are pre-processed and converted into optimized graphical formats with embedded metadata and hierarchical structures before being loaded onto the aircraft computing device. This preliminary conversion reduces the computational burden during actual flight operations by preparing the data in advance for efficient rendering and retrieval
2Manufacturing precision
If flight charts are stored in detailed graphical format, then display quality is improved, but loading times and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chart data is segmented into hierarchical layers with varying levels of detail. The system can load coarse-detail versions quickly for initial display and progressively load higher-detail layers as needed, reducing initial loading time while maintaining the ability to display high-quality detailed graphics when required
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of detail and graphical complexity based on flight phase, altitude, and display device capabilities. By changing parameters such as resolution, layer depth, and rendering complexity, the system optimizes the balance between display quality and loading/performance requirements for different operational contexts
3Adaptability or versatility
If third-party PDF charts are used, then chart availability is maintained, but conversion complexity and system integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
A standardized intermediate data format and conversion framework is implemented as an intermediary layer between third-party PDF chart sources and the aircraft display system. This intermediary structure provides consistent interfaces and conversion routines that simplify integration of multiple third-party chart vendors while maintaining chart availability and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The conversion system is designed with universal, vendor-agnostic processing capabilities that can handle multiple third-party PDF chart formats through a single integrated conversion pipeline. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate conversion systems for different vendors, reducing complexity while maintaining broad chart availability
Data Source
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AI summary
A flight chart conversion system (100) is disclosed. A host computing device (300) is configured to: convert flight chart file(s) to SVG flight chart file(s) defined in XML; preprocess each of the SVG flight chart file(s) by removing filled shapes overlapping navigational paths, detecting font characters, and replacing the font characters with font character references; convert the SVG flight chart file(s) to flight chart(s) defined in set(s) of aircraft display hardware directives; compress each of the flight chart(s) and the respective metadata; and combine the flight chart(s) and the respective metadata into a flight chart database.