Flight Deck Control Cueing via Electronic Checklist Visuals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face errors when performing steps in electronic checklists due to the need to manually locate and operate controls on the flight deck, leading to potential aircraft issues or new problems.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that displays electronic checklists on an aircraft display, highlighting steps and activating visual indicators associated with controls, allowing pilots to confirm completion of tasks and reducing errors through automated feedback and next-step highlighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilots manually locate and operate controls on the flight deck based on ECL text, then they can complete checklist steps, but errors occur due to human factor and time is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback by monitoring control positions and comparing them against required positions from the ECL. Visual indicators on the flight deck provide immediate feedback to the pilot about which control should be moved and to what position, eliminating the need for manual searching and reducing errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system between the ECL display and the physical controls. This intermediary system includes processors that receive control position data, determine compliance with ECL requirements, and activate visual indicators to guide the pilot, thereby mediating the interaction between the checklist and the controls.
2Ease of operation
If pilots manually search for controls on the flight deck, then they can locate the controls, but the process is complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
Visual indicators provide continuous feedback to the pilot about the current status of each control relative to the ECL requirements. This feedback mechanism simplifies the operation by eliminating the need for manual searching and cognitive processing of control locations and positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring control positions and generating appropriate visual cues without requiring pilot intervention for each individual control check. The system serves itself by comparing actual positions with required positions and autonomously guiding the pilot through the checklist.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are described herein for cueing a pilot to flight deck controls based on steps in an electronic checklist (ECL). In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for cueing flight deck controls based on steps in an ECL includes displaying the ECL on an aircraft display that includes one or more steps involving controls on the flight deck. A step from the ECL is highlighted on the aircraft display and an indication indicating that the step has been completed is received. Upon receiving the indication, a next step in the ECL is highlighted. In various embodiments, flight deck visual indicators associated with the controls may be activated corresponding to steps in the ECL.