Flight Path Management for Moving Targets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft flight path determination methods are inefficient for navigating around moving targets, such as ships or weather systems, as they lack the ability to dynamically adjust flight paths to maintain a safe distance and optimize travel time.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that identifies parameters of a moving target, determines a moving circular flight path, and calculates an optimum flight path for an aircraft to intercept this path, allowing the aircraft to maintain a safe distance and reduce travel time by dynamically adjusting to the target's motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the aircraft flies around a moving target to maintain a safe distance, then the safety is improved, but the flight path complexity and travel time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flight path adaptive and movable rather than static. The circular flight path moves with the target, and the system dynamically recalculates intercept points and flight paths as the target moves, allowing the aircraft to maintain safe distance while optimizing travel time to the moving circular path
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of the intercept point and flight path to the moving circular flight path before the aircraft actually reaches the target area. By predicting future positions and calculating optimal paths in advance, the system reduces actual travel time while maintaining safety
2Reliability
If the aircraft maintains a fixed distance from the moving target, then the safety is improved, but the flight path cannot be optimized for time and fuel efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the flight path based on the target's motion. The circular flight path moves with the target, and the intercept point is continuously recalculated, allowing the aircraft to maintain safety while optimizing for fuel efficiency through dynamic path adjustment rather than fixed distance maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters such as the radius of the circular flight path, the intercept point location, and the flight path trajectory based on target motion parameters. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves both safety and fuel efficiency
3Measurement precision
If the system calculates a flight path to a moving circular flight path, then the accuracy and predictability are improved, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of the intercept point and flight path to the moving circular flight path before the aircraft actually reaches the target area. By predicting future positions and calculating optimal paths in advance, the system achieves high accuracy while managing computational complexity through advance planning
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from target motion parameters to continuously update and recalculate the flight path. The circular flight path moves with the target, and the system recalculates intercept points based on updated target position and velocity, maintaining accuracy through continuous feedback adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining a flight path of an aircraft are provided. In one embodiment, a method can include identifying one or more parameter(s) associated with a moving target. The method can include determining a moving circular flight path associated with the moving target based at least in part on the parameter(s) associated with the moving target. The method can include identifying one or more condition(s) associated with at least one of the aircraft and the moving circular flight path. The method can include determining a flight path of the aircraft from a location of the aircraft to the moving circular flight path based at least in part on the parameter(s) associated with the moving target and the condition(s) associated with at least one of the aircraft and the moving circular flight path.