Flight Path Indicator Visual Cue for Deviation Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight management systems face challenges in providing clear and timely guidance to pilots when the desired flight path significantly differs from the current path, as existing displays are crowded and struggle to effectively convey navigation information without overwhelming the pilot.
Innovation Solution
A current path display indicator that includes a flight path indicator with a visual cue, such as an arrow, highlighted segment, triangle, or pie-shaped marker, to easily and intuitively show the relative direction from the current path to the desired path, enhancing the pilot's ability to correct deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional flight path indicators are used, then the display remains simple, but the pilot cannot easily interpret guidance when the desired path is significantly different from the current path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using a highlighted segment (typically in a contrasting color such as cyan or magenta) on the flight path indicator to indicate the desired path direction. This color differentiation allows the pilot to quickly distinguish the correction direction from the current flight path, resolving the contradiction by making the guidance information visually prominent without adding complex new displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight path indicator is segmented into distinct visual elements: the current flight path representation and the highlighted segment representing the desired path direction. This segmentation allows the indicator to convey multiple pieces of information (current state and correction needed) within a single integrated display element, improving interpretability without overwhelming the pilot with separate indicators.
2Loss of information
If more navigation information is added to the PFD, then guidance accuracy improves, but the display becomes crowded and harder to read
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the desired path guidance information with the existing flight path indicator by overlaying a highlighted segment on the same display element. This combining approach integrates additional navigation information into the current display structure rather than adding separate indicators, thus improving information completeness while maintaining display simplicity and avoiding crowding.
3Ease of operation
If lateral deviation indicators are positioned at the periphery of the display, then they follow traditional layout conventions, but the pilot must scan across the display increasing cognitive workload
Solution Approach 1:
The desired path indication is merged with the central flight path indicator rather than being placed at the periphery. This integration allows the pilot to obtain both current flight path and correction direction information from a single central location, eliminating the need to scan across the display and reducing cognitive workload while maintaining quick information access.
Data Source
AI summary
A current path display indicator for a display device of a vehicle. The current path display indicator includes a flight path indicator (FPI) and a visual cue associated with the FPI to indicate relative direction from the vehicle's current path to a desired path. The visual cue may be embodied in possibly a number of different ways. For example, it may be embodied as an arrow extending from a circular portion of the FPI; a highlighted segment superimposed on the circular portion of the FPI; a triangle extending from the circular portion; or, a pie-shaped marker contained within the circular portion.