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 represent these points and incorporating them 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 traditional textual FMA information is displayed, then the display system is simple, but pilot situational awareness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms FMA information from a one-dimensional textual list into a two-dimensional graphical representation that maps flight modes onto the flight path geometry. This dimensional transformation allows pilots to visually perceive mode transitions in the context of spatial flight progression, significantly improving situational awareness while maintaining display system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a graphical copy or visualization of the flight path with FMA information overlaid on it. Instead of displaying abstract text, the system renders a visual representation that mirrors the actual flight trajectory, allowing pilots to see mode changes in relation to physical flight progress. This copying approach enhances information perception without requiring complex additional hardware.
2Reliability
If graphical representation of FMA information is implemented, then situational awareness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By mapping FMA information onto the spatial dimension of the flight path display, the system improves flight safety through better situational awareness. The graphical representation shows mode transitions at specific locations along the flight trajectory, allowing pilots to anticipate changes in context. This approach achieves enhanced reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity, as it leverages the existing flight path visualization infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it shows the flight path geometry, displays FMA information, and provides situational context all in one unified visualization. This multi-functionality approach improves flight safety by consolidating information that would otherwise require separate displays, thereby enhancing reliability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If only textual FMA list is monitored, then the display system remains simple, but workload increases due to lack of situational awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces pilot workload by adding the spatial dimension to FMA information display. Instead of requiring pilots to mentally correlate text-based mode changes with flight progress, the system visually anchors mode transitions to specific points on the flight path. This dimensional enhancement makes information processing more intuitive and reduces cognitive workload without significantly complicating the display system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses color coding to differentiate flight mode statuses (armed, engaged, disengaged) and to highlight upcoming mode transitions. This visual encoding allows pilots to quickly grasp mode information at a glance, reducing the mental effort required to monitor and interpret FMA data. The color changes provide immediate visual cues that simplify information processing and reduce workload.
Data Source
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.