Automatic Flight Controller Mode Awareness Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face difficulties in estimating the activity and behavior of aircraft when using automatic flight controllers due to the complexity of operating modes, leading to potential irritation and erroneous actions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an automatic flight controller with at least two separate high-resolution graphical displays that showcase operating mode awareness-relevant parameters, such as active operating mode, target values, guidance, transitions, control behavior, and interactions, providing improved feedback and redundancy to enhance pilot awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operating modes are integrated into the automatic flight controller to extend basic autopilot functions, then the functionality and automation capability are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of detecting and measuring the actual flying state increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flight mode information is segmented into distinct visual components on the display: the active flight mode is highlighted with a box, target values are shown separately, and mode transitions are indicated through color changes or animations. This segmentation allows pilots to quickly identify relevant information without being overwhelmed by the complexity of multiple operating modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The display element acts as an intermediary between the complex automatic flight controller system and the pilot. It translates the internal state of multiple operating modes into simplified visual representations that show only the relevant active mode and its target values, bridging the gap between system complexity and pilot understanding.
2Extent of automation
If multiple operating modes are integrated into the automatic flight controller to extend basic autopilot functions, then the automation capability is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the actual flying state increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display provides continuous feedback to the pilot about the active flight mode and its target values. When the flight controller transitions between operating modes, the display updates to reflect the new active mode, giving the pilot immediate feedback about the automated system's current state and intended actions, thereby maintaining situational awareness despite high automation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different flight modes are represented by distinct color codes or highlighting schemes on the display. Mode transitions are indicated through color changes or animated transitions, allowing pilots to quickly detect changes in the automated system's state without having to interpret complex data, thus maintaining awareness despite high automation levels.
3Reliability
If thrust reduction is automatically conducted by the flight controller based on set operating mode, then the safety and fuel efficiency are improved, but the pilot's situational awareness and control perception deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The display shows the target values for the active flight mode in advance, including any intended thrust changes. Before the automatic thrust reduction occurs, the pilot can see the planned target values displayed on the flight control unit, providing advance notice of the automated action and maintaining awareness of the system's intentions even as automation takes control.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns an automatic flight controller with operating elements, by means of which target settings of the automatic flight controller can be set by an operator, and with display elements for data display, wherein the display elements comprise at least two mutually separate displays that are disposed on the front, for example a front panel, of the automatic flight controller, whereina) the at least two mutually separate displays are high resolution graphical displays and/orb) the automatic flight controller is designed to display all operating mode awareness-relevant parameters of the automatic flight controller on one or more of the at least two mutually separate displays of the automatic flight controller.The invention further concerns an aircraft cockpit with such an automatic flight controller as well as a method for operating a flight controller. The invention also concerns a computer program for carrying out the method.