Flight Management Vertical Profile Cruise Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight management systems face complexity in managing the vertical profile of flight plans due to multiple maneuvers with specific rules, combinatorics of sequences, and inability to manage transitions effectively, particularly in military operations, leading to increased complexity and limitations in adapting to new operations.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of 'cruise sections' as a generic element with unique rules, allowing for automatic determination and sequencing of flight sections with defined transitions, simplifying the flight plan by reducing complexity and ensuring seamless transitions between sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specific maneuvers with dedicated algorithms are used to manage different flight operations, then each operation can be managed with specific rules, but the system complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a single standardized flight phase model that can represent multiple types of flight operations (civil and military) through configurable parameters. Instead of having dedicated algorithms for each maneuver type, the system uses one universal model with adjustable characteristics to handle CMS, STEP FROM, STEP TO, DROP, AAR, and other operations, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes to adapt the universal flight phase model to different operation types. By modifying parameters such as altitude constraints, speed profiles, and transition characteristics within the standardized model, the system can represent various flight maneuvers without requiring separate algorithms for each operation, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If transitions between flight levels are not managed, then the flight plan structure remains simple, but military applications cannot be properly implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized flight phase model universally handles both transition phases and level phases in a unified structure. This model can represent military operations requiring level transitions (such as DROP and AAR) while maintaining a consistent flight plan structure, eliminating the need for separate transition management mechanisms and reducing overall structural complexity.
3Device complexity
If civil flight plan elements are generalized for military use, then a unified system could be used, but additional complexity arises from managing extra phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by using parameter changes within the standardized flight phase model to accommodate military-specific requirements. The same universal structure used for civil flight plans can represent military phases by adjusting parameters such as altitude constraints, speed profiles, and transition characteristics, thereby maintaining structural simplicity while achieving military adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The vertical profile management device includes a flight management system unit that selects a plurality of successive standard cruise sections, each comprising a level phase and a transition phase. The cruise sections are defined by a plurality of features, including waypoints corresponding to a section starting point and a section ending point, a transition type, a transition mode, a transition speed, a level altitude, and a level speed. The flight management system unit also joins together the successive cruise sections in order to form a vertical profile of a flight plan. The cruise sections are configured to be added, removed, or re-sequenced in the flight plan because each section ending point is configured to be the section starting point of a next cruise section in the series.