Flight Management System Performance Calculation Segregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flight management systems are complex and inefficient due to the iterative calculations required for predicting aircraft trajectories, which involve numerous interactions between lateral and vertical trajectory components, leading to increased computational demands and system redundancy.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that externalize performance calculations to a separate performance function server connected via a data transmission connection, allowing the flight management system to focus on defining the lateral trajectory while the server handles prediction calculations, using consolidated requests to minimize data exchanges and optimize processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If performance calculations are integrated within the flight management system, then the system can perform iterative trajectory calculations with high precision, but the system complexity and computational burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrajectory prediction precisionVSAvoidflight management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the flight management system into two independent modules: a trajectory management module that handles lateral trajectory definition and a performance calculation module that handles prediction calculations. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in specific functions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining calculation precision through modular iterative processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The performance calculation functions are extracted as a separate, independent module from the core flight management system. This extracted module can be implemented as standalone software or hardware that communicates with the trajectory management module through standardized interfaces, thereby reducing the complexity of the main flight management system while preserving precise trajectory prediction capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If multiple iterative calculation loops are performed to converge on precise trajectory solutions, then prediction accuracy improves, but calculation time and processing resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrajectory prediction accuracyVSAvoidcalculation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The performance calculation module pre-calculates and stores performance data, aerodynamic coefficients, and engine characteristics in lookup tables and databases before actual trajectory predictions are needed. During iterative trajectory calculations, the system retrieves this pre-prepared data instead of computing it in real-time, significantly reducing calculation time per iteration while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates simplified models and approximations of complex aerodynamic and performance relationships that can be evaluated quickly during iterative calculations. These copied representations allow the iterative loops to converge faster while still producing accurate trajectory predictions by balancing computational speed with fidelity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the flight management system performs both lateral trajectory definition and performance calculations, then functional integration is achieved, but development redundancy and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functional integrationVSAvoidsystem development and maintenance ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The performance calculation module is designed as a universal, independent component that can serve multiple flight management systems and different aircraft types. By implementing standardized interfaces and making the module aircraft-type agnostic, the system achieves functional integration while reducing development redundancy - the same performance calculation module can be reused across different platforms without modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces standardized data interfaces and communication protocols as intermediaries between the trajectory management module and the performance calculation module. These intermediaries define clear boundaries and data exchange formats, allowing the two modules to be developed, tested, and maintained independently while still working together seamlessly, thereby reducing maintenance difficulty and improving ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9361804B2Method and device for calculating predictions on a flight plan of an aircraft

Publication Date: 2016.06.07 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

The device comprises a flight management system which comprises means for generating requests, for requesting the results of performance functions and a performance function server which is external with respect to the flight management system and comprises means for calculating predictions which are capable of processing the requests and transmitting the results to the flight management system.