Flight Control Energy State Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft automatic flight control systems (AFCS) often cause pilot confusion regarding speed control, as they manage aircraft speed through either autopilot or auto-throttle modes, lacking clear insights into the aircraft's energy state and interactions between these modes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Predictive Flight Level Change (P-FLC) control scheme within an enhanced AFCS, which includes an Auto-FPA mode, provides new indicators and symbology on the Primary Flight Display (PFD) to reveal the relationships between thrust, drag, airspeed, flight path, and acceleration, enabling pilots to understand current speed control activities and limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional AFCS uses separate A/T and AP speed control functions, then speed control capability is provided, but pilot confusion occurs regarding which system is controlling speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate A/T and AP speed control functions into a unified energy state management system. The new Auto-FPA mode merges thrust management and vertical path control into a single integrated mode that automatically manages both engine thrust and flight path angle based on energy state, eliminating the confusion of separate control systems while providing comprehensive situational awareness through unified display symbology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces energy state information as an intermediary concept that mediates between thrust control and speed control. By displaying energy state parameters (such as potential flight path angle, thrust limits, and speed control authority) as intermediate information, the system provides pilots with a clear understanding of which system is controlling speed and why, resolving the information gap without adding complex separate control modes.
2Loss of information
If conventional AFCS provides speed control through A/T or AP, then speed management is achieved, but clear visualization of aircraft energy state and control interactions is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension to the display system by introducing energy state symbology that visualizes thrust, drag, airspeed, flight path, and acceleration relationships. The Auto-FPA mode adds vertical path angle visualization and thrust limit indicators that provide pilots with a multi-dimensional understanding of energy state without requiring additional physical control devices or complex system architecture.
3Loss of information
If Auto-FPA mode provides comprehensive energy state information, then pilot situational awareness is enhanced, but display system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments energy state information into distinct, organized display elements including potential flight path angle indicators, thrust limit symbology, speed control authority markers, and vertical path guidance. By dividing comprehensive energy state data into segmented visual components, the system provides detailed information without creating overwhelming display complexity, allowing pilots to process information systematically.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft flight control system and method are provided. The system provides a control module that receives inertial data, sensor data, and a target airspeed. The control module processes the received data with aircraft thrust and drag models to evaluate the aircraft energy state. Based on the aircraft energy state, the control module determines (i) a maximum predicted potential flight path "max PPFP", defined by a maximum thrust at the target airspeed, and (ii) an idle predicted potential flight path, "idle PPFP," defined by an idle thrust at the target airspeed. The control module generates display commands for a display system to display (i) the flight path angle, (ii) the max PPFP and (iii) the idle PPFP. In addition, the control module generates and displays a predicted flight path speed indicator (PFPS) when the FPA is above the max PPFP or below the idle PPFP.