Flight Management System Trajectory Modification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft trajectory profiles generated by flight management systems often become impermissible due to changing flight conditions, leading to deviations from the intended flight path, as they may violate operational rules related to turn radii, bank angles, and other performance limitations.

Innovation Solution

The flight management system dynamically modifies the initial trajectory profile by adjusting turn initiation points, turn centers, and inserting straight segments to ensure compliance with operational rules, thereby generating a modified trajectory profile that is flyable and adheres to the original flight plan intent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the flight management system generates an initial trajectory profile based on the flight plan, then the aircraft can follow an optimized four-dimensional path, but the trajectory may become impermissible when flight conditions change, causing deviation from the intended path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight efficiencyVSAvoidtrajectory compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically modifies the trajectory profile in real-time based on current flight conditions. The flight management system continuously monitors flight parameters and automatically adjusts the trajectory to maintain compliance with operational rules, transforming the static initial trajectory into a dynamic adaptive path that responds to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the flight management system monitors actual flight conditions and compares them against the initial trajectory profile. When deviations or impermissible conditions are detected, the system generates modified trajectory profiles that incorporate corrective adjustments, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures continuous compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the pilot maneuvers the aircraft to follow the trajectory profile, then the aircraft can reach the destination, but changing flight conditions can prevent smooth maneuvering through waypoints

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaneuverabilityVSAvoidresponse to flight conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary modifications to the trajectory profile by predicting potential compliance issues before they occur. The flight management system proactively adjusts turn initiation points, turn centers, and inserts straight segments in advance to prevent impermissible conditions, rather than reacting after violations occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key trajectory parameters including turn radius, bank angle, turn initiation points, and turn centers to maintain compliance with operational rules. By dynamically adjusting these parameters based on current flight conditions, the system ensures the trajectory remains flyable while adapting to changing environmental and aircraft performance factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the trajectory profile includes tight turns to pass waypoints, then the flight path is optimized, but the aircraft may violate operational rules related to turn radii and bank angles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrajectory accuracyVSAvoidoperational rule compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the trajectory into distinct components including straight segments and turn segments. By inserting straight segments between turns and modifying turn characteristics, the system creates a piecewise trajectory that maintains accuracy while ensuring each segment complies with operational rules regarding turn radii and bank angles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system resolves turn compliance issues by utilizing the fourth dimension (time) and vertical dimension (altitude). By adjusting turn initiation points in time and potentially using altitude changes, the system can achieve the required waypoint accuracy while maintaining compliant turn parameters, effectively adding dimensional flexibility to the trajectory design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10867520B2System and method to modify an aircraft flight trajectory

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A method includes generating a flight plan of an aircraft. The flight plan is based on at least one waypoint and a set of operational rules associated with the aircraft. The method also includes generating an initial trajectory profile based on the at least one waypoint and the set of operational rules. The method further includes identifying an impermissible flight condition associated with the initial trajectory profile. The impermissible flight condition violates at least one operational rule of the set of operational rules. The method further includes generating a modified trajectory profile by modifying at least one aspect of the initial trajectory profile to remove the impermissible flight condition. The modified trajectory profile can be used by a pilot to fly the aircraft, the modified trajectory profile can be used by an autopilot system, or the modified trajectory profile can be displayed.