Flight Path Maker Display for Aircraft Trackability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current display systems for aircraft, such as ILS, TIS, and flight-path display apparatus, fail to provide pilots with clear guidance on the traveling direction of the aircraft, leading to overcontrol or undercontrol when tracking a target flight path, as they rely on attitude relative to ground which does not indicate the actual traveling direction.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus and method that show the relative difference between the target attitude relative to air, representing the target angle-of-attack and target sideslip angles, and the current attitude relative to air, representing the current angle-of-attack and sideslip angles, allowing pilots to control the aircraft with higher precision by indicating the actual traveling direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the display shows target attitude relative to ground (pitch angle and bank angle), then the pilot can see the required attitude for tracking the target flight path, but the pilot cannot clearly recognize the traveling direction of the aircraft, leading to overcontrol or undercontrol
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reference frame from ground-relative attitude (pitch/bank angles) to air-relative attitude (angle of attack and sideslip angle). This parameter transformation directly addresses the problem by providing information about the aircraft's traveling direction relative to the air mass, enabling the pilot to accurately control the aircraft's path without confusion between nose direction and actual travel direction.
2Measurement precision
If the display shows ILS and TIS deviation angles, then the pilot can recognize the deviation from the target flight path, but the pilot cannot grasp how to control the aircraft to track the target flight path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by displaying the difference between target air-relative attitude and current air-relative attitude. This closed-loop feedback mechanism not only shows the deviation from the target flight path but also directly indicates the control actions needed (changes in angle of attack and sideslip angle), enabling the pilot to effectively track the target path.
3Loss of information
If the display shows FD-command bar indications, then the pilot can see the target pitch and bank angles, but the direction of the nose does not necessarily match the traveling direction, causing indirect control information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the control parameters from ground-relative orientation (pitch/bank angles that indicate nose direction) to air-relative orientation (angle of attack and sideslip angles that indicate traveling direction). This parameter change eliminates the discrepancy between nose direction and actual travel direction, providing direct and intuitive control information without increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A flight path maker (FPM) and a target attitude relative to air display are displayed on a primary flight display (PFD), which is an integrated indicator. The target attitude relative to air display is a mark indicating a target attitude relative to air representing a target angle-of-attack and a target sideslip angle of the aircraft to achieve a target flight path. The PFD displays the relative difference between the FPM and the target attitude relative to air display and shows that the aircraft is flying in the target traveling direction when the FPM matches (is superposed on) the target attitude relative to air display. Thus, controlling with higher trackability than controlling performed based on a target attitude relative to ground is enabled.