Aircraft Flight Path Replanning for Obstacle-Aware Hover Takeoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for automated flight path planning in hovering aircraft, such as helicopters and V/STOL aircraft, face challenges in adaptability, comfort, and consistency during takeoff and landing, particularly in navigating around obstacles while maintaining stability and passenger comfort.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize sensors to scan the environment, detect obstacles, and dynamically adjust the flight path by changing the takeoff waypoint and rotating/ translating the flight path to avoid obstacles, using a combination of brute force and Rapidly Expanding Random Tree (RRT) approaches for different flight contexts, ensuring smooth and reliable navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If automated flight path planning systems avoid obstacles by dynamically changing flight paths, then obstacle avoidance capability is improved, but aircraft stability and passenger comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning of the flight path using sensors before the aircraft commits to a trajectory. By detecting obstacles in advance and pre-calculating alternative flight paths, the system can transition smoothly without sudden maneuvers that would compromise stability or comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight path planning system dynamically adjusts the trajectory in real-time based on sensor data and environmental conditions. The system maintains aircraft stability by applying smooth, continuous adjustments to the flight path rather than abrupt changes, balancing adaptability with stability through dynamic control.
2Ease of operation
If complex algorithms are used to generate smooth flight paths in restrictive environments, then passenger comfort is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight path planning is divided into discrete segments or waypoints. Instead of calculating a completely new complex trajectory, the system segments the flight path into manageable portions and adjusts individual segments to avoid obstacles while maintaining overall smoothness, reducing computational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes flight path parameters such as altitude, speed, and heading angles to generate smooth trajectories. By adjusting these parameters within defined constraints and using optimization algorithms, the system achieves passenger comfort without requiring excessively complex computational models.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flight paths are manually planned by experienced pilots, then adaptability to different flight contexts is improved, but automation level deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system incorporates feedback loops that continuously monitor sensor data, flight conditions, and environmental factors. By comparing actual flight conditions with planned trajectories and adjusting in real-time, the system achieves adaptability comparable to experienced pilots while maintaining full automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously performs flight path planning and adjustment without requiring manual pilot input. It self-adjusts to different flight contexts by processing sensor data and independently generating appropriate trajectories, achieving both high automation and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
In an example, a method of generating flight paths for navigating an aircraft is provided. The method includes hovering the aircraft at a predetermined hover point. The predetermined hover point corresponds to a first takeoff waypoint of a first trajectory of the aircraft. The method includes scanning at least a portion of a first flight path of the first trajectory. The method includes determining that an obstacle obstructs the first flight path of the first trajectory. The first flight path begins at the first takeoff waypoint. The method includes determining a second takeoff waypoint. Determining the second takeoff waypoint includes assigning the first flight path to begin at the second takeoff waypoint. The method includes changing the first flight path of the first trajectory in accordance with the second takeoff waypoint, thereby forming a second flight path of a second trajectory. The method includes causing the aircraft to follow the second flight path of the second trajectory from the second takeoff waypoint.