Flight Display System for Energy Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current flight display systems fail to effectively communicate complex energy management information to pilots in a simple and intuitive manner, making it difficult for them to assess the aircraft's energy situation and future evolution during approach procedures, which can lead to unstable approaches and increased safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented flight display system that provides graphical symbology and algorithms to convey essential energy management information, including optimal speed, configuration changes, and stabilization criteria, through a user-friendly interface, allowing pilots to understand and manage energy levels effectively during approaches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If complex energy management algorithms are implemented to provide comprehensive output data, then the information completeness is improved, but the ease of interpretation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy management information completenessVSAvoidpilot interpretation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments complex energy management information into distinct visual elements including a flight path vector (FPV) showing desired trajectory, energy cones indicating speed/altitude ranges for stabilization, and symbolic representations of configuration changes. This segmentation transforms comprehensive but complex algorithmic output into discrete, easily interpretable visual components that pilots can quickly understand and act upon.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If detailed energy management data is displayed to ensure complete information, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy situation assessment precisionVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent projects energy management information from abstract algorithmic space into a three-dimensional graphical representation on the display. The FPV extends in spatial dimension to show trajectory, while energy cones add volumetric dimension to represent speed and altitude ranges. This dimensional transformation maintains precise energy assessment capabilities while presenting information in an intuitively understandable visual format rather than complex tabular or numerical displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If comprehensive energy management output is provided to ensure safety, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to information overload

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapproach stabilization reliabilityVSAvoidpilot workload
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs color-coded symbolic representations to convey energy management status and required actions. Different colors indicate various flight phases, energy states, and configuration requirements. This color-coding system allows pilots to quickly assess the current situation and required actions without processing complex numerical data, maintaining high reliability through comprehensive information while significantly reducing pilot workload through intuitive visual cues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP3182395B1Aircraft display system pertaining to energy management
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3182395B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3182395B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3182395B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2D

AI summary

A computer-implemented flight display system including a computer processor that is capable of determining a current energy situation of an aircraft, an electronic display device, and a graphical user interface (GUI) provided on the electronic display device. The GUI includes a current aircraft position symbol, an optimal aircraft position symbol, and at least one symbol indicating a position for changing aircraft configuration. Relative positioning on the GUI of the optimal aircraft position system and the at least one symbol indicating a position for changing aircraft configuration is based at least in part on the determined current energy situation of the aircraft.