Flight Path Determination Using Curvilinear Distance Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the horizontal profile of an aircraft flight plan struggle with high computation costs and fail to account for comfort imperatives, particularly in civilian transport, due to the exponential increase in possible sequences of cells when tightening the geographic location grid, leading to inefficient path planning that does not minimize frequency and rapidity of changes in heading or altitude.
Innovation Solution
A method using propagation distance transforms to create curvilinear distance maps, which account for reliefs, regulated overfly zones, and prescribed vertical flight and speed profiles, allowing for the determination of a direct and efficient flight path by charting a connected set of iso-distance points and approximating them with straight segments while ensuring minimal deviation and lateral safety margins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If grid-based methods are used to determine the horizontal profile by subdividing the region into individual cells, then the path can be optimized for minimum cost, but the computation cost increases significantly due to the exponential increase in possible sequences when the grid pitch is tightened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional grid-based search methods with a mathematical transformation approach using propagation distance transforms. Instead of computationally searching through exponential sequences of grid cells, the system transforms the pathfinding problem into a mathematical field problem that can be solved more efficiently, substituting mechanical search with mathematical transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the problem representation by introducing propagation distance transforms and curvilinear distance maps. Rather than working with discrete grid cells and sequences, the system transforms the problem into continuous distance fields where the optimal path emerges from mathematical properties of the transformed space, fundamentally changing how the problem is parameterized and solved.
2Measurement precision
If grid-based methods with tightened pitch are used to improve path accuracy, then the horizontal profile determination becomes more precise, but the computation power required exceeds what is available on board an aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces computationally intensive grid-based search mechanisms with mathematical transformation methods that have lower computational complexity. The propagation distance transform approach computes distance fields in a manner that avoids the exponential complexity of traditional pathfinding, making high-precision path determination feasible with onboard aircraft computing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary transformations of the geographic space into curvilinear distance maps before pathfinding is required. By pre-computing the distance fields and transforming the space representation in advance, the system reduces the computational burden during actual path determination, allowing high precision without exceeding available onboard power.
3Loss of energy
If traditional pathfinding methods are used to minimize fuel consumption, then the flight cost is reduced, but the frequency and rapidity of changes in heading or altitude are not minimized, affecting aircraft comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by working with curvilinear distance maps and continuous distance fields rather than discrete grid cells. This curvature-based approach naturally produces smoother paths with fewer abrupt changes in heading and altitude, improving aircraft comfort while maintaining fuel efficiency. The continuous mathematical representation inherently favors gradual transitions over sharp angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optimization parameters to include both fuel consumption and comfort metrics simultaneously. By transforming the problem into a continuous field framework, the system can optimize for multiple parameters including path length (fuel), curvature (comfort), and vertical profile constraints, rather than prioritizing only minimum fuel consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the definition, in a flight plan, of the horizontal profile of an air route with vertical flight and speed profile prescribed on departure and/or on arrival, by a stringing together of check-points and/or turn points associated with local flight constraints and called “D-Fix” because they are not listed in a published navigation database like those called “Waypoints”. It consists in charting, on curvilinear distance maps, a direct curvilinear path joining the departure point to the destination point of the air route while complying with vertical flight and speed profiles prescribed on departure and/or on arrival and while guaranteeing a circumnavigation of the surrounding reliefs and compliance with regulated overfly zones, then in approximating the series of points of the direct curvilinear path by a sequence of straight segments complying with an arbitrary maximum deviation threshold relative to the points of the series and an arbitrary minimum lateral deviation threshold relative to the set of obstacles to be circumnavigated and in adopting as “D-Fix” points the points of the intermediate intersections of the rectilinear segments.