Flight Management System Predicts Navigation Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft navigation performance prediction becomes challenging when inertial reference systems exhibit position errors due to integration drift, and navigational aid measurements are not available, especially during approaches or in remote areas.
Innovation Solution
A flight management system predicts aircraft navigation performance by estimating future actual and required navigation performance without relying on navigational aid measurements, using data from flight plans and parameters like speed, position, and altitude, and comparing these values to determine if the aircraft can complete its flight plan within the required navigation performance limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inertial reference systems are used to estimate navigation performance, then navigation performance can be calculated, but position errors accumulate over time due to integration drift
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses navigation aid measurements (when available) to provide feedback that corrects inertial navigation errors. The flight management system compares inertial position estimates with navigation aid measurements and uses this feedback to estimate and remove inertial errors from calculations, maintaining accuracy over time.
Solution Approach 2:
Navigation aid measurements serve as an intermediary to bridge the inertial reference system and the required navigation performance criteria. These measurements indirectly correct inertial drift by providing reference points against which inertial errors can be estimated and compensated.
2Measurement precision
If navigation aid measurements are used to correct inertial errors, then position accuracy improves, but the system becomes dependent on navigation aids which may not be available in remote areas or during approach
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by using navigation aid measurements while they are available to establish and maintain accurate inertial navigation solutions. The flight management system continuously updates inertial error estimates using navigation aids before they become unavailable, preparing the system for periods without external references.
Solution Approach 2:
The inertial reference system becomes self-sufficient by using its own historical data and flight plan information to continue navigation calculations when external navigation aids are unavailable. The system serves itself by maintaining navigation capability through internal error modeling and prediction.
3Extent of automation
If the system predicts future navigation performance without navigation aid measurements, then autonomy increases, but the ability to detect and measure actual position errors becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flight management system performs preliminary prediction of future navigation performance using current inertial error estimates and flight plan data. By calculating expected position errors at future points along the flight path, the system proactively identifies potential navigation performance issues before they occur, enabling early corrective action.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct mechanical measurement of position errors (using navigation aids) with a computational model that predicts errors based on inertial system characteristics, flight dynamics, and error propagation analysis. This substitution enables autonomous prediction without continuous external measurement.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for predicting aircraft navigation performance are provided. In one embodiment, a method can include determining that one or more navigational aid measurements are not available to the aircraft (120). The method can include estimating a future actual navigation performance of the aircraft (120) for a future point in the flight plan. The method can include determining a future required navigation performance associated with the future point in the flight plan. The method can include comparing the future actual navigation performance to the future required navigation performance to determine if the future actual navigation performance satisfies the future required navigation performance. The method can include providing, to an onboard system (140) of the aircraft (120), information indicative of whether the future actual navigation performance is satisfies the future required navigation performance.