Flight Mode Annunciation Graphics on Cockpit Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft display systems lack graphical representation of flight mode annunciation information, leading to reduced situational awareness for pilots, which can result in high workload, controlled flight into terrain, runway overrun, and hard landings.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine specific points along a flight path when a flight mode will be armed, engaged, or disengaged, generating graphics data to incorporate into a user interface for display on an aircraft's display device, providing a graphical representation of flight mode annunciation information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If flight mode annunciation information is displayed as a textual list, then the display format is simple and easy to implement, but the situational awareness of pilots is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional textual list display into a graphical representation that adds spatial dimensionality. Flight mode transitions are displayed as visual elements positioned along the flight path trajectory, allowing pilots to perceive mode changes in the context of the actual flight geometry rather than as isolated text entries. This dimensional enhancement directly improves situational awareness while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the flight path geometry on the display device. Instead of merely listing mode changes textually, the system generates graphical elements that mirror the actual spatial trajectory and timing of flight mode transitions, giving pilots an intuitive visual copy of what is happening during the flight.
2Ease of operation
If only textual list display is used, then the system complexity is low, but the workload of pilots increases due to lack of situational awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cognitive process of monitoring and interpreting textual mode lists with an automated graphical display system. The system automatically generates and updates visual representations of flight mode transitions along the flight path, eliminating the need for pilots to mentally process textual information and reducing cognitive workload.
3Reliability
If graphical representation of flight mode transitions is implemented, then situational awareness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives flight plan data and flight execution data, processes this information to determine when mode transitions occur, and generates appropriate graphical representations. This intermediary module acts as a mediator between the flight control systems and the display system, improving reliability by ensuring accurate representation of mode transitions while managing system complexity through modular design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is provided for displaying information on a display device of an aircraft. The method comprises determining, by the processor, a first point along a flight path when a flight mode associated with a flight plan will be armed; determining, by the processor, a second point along the flight path when the flight mode associated with the flight plan will be engaged; determining, by the processor, a third point along the flight path when the flight mode associated with the flight plan will be disengaged; generating, by the processor, graphics data that represents the first point, the second point and the third point; incorporating, by the processor, the graphics data into a user interface that displays the flight path; and generating, by the processor, the user interface for display on the display device of the aircraft.