Flight Path Selection System for Real-Time Threat Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for selecting alternate aircraft routes are limited in their ability to automatically and efficiently respond to real-time threats such as weather, navigational impairments, and airspace restrictions, often leading to suboptimal decisions in terms of time and fuel efficiency, and may require manual intervention or additional costs due to limited decision-making capabilities and dependence on traditional weather alerts.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a processor and Flight Management System (FMS) interface to receive and analyze threat information associated with a planned path, determining an alternate path that mitigates threats by adjusting the time of departure, altitude, or route, and transmitting this information to the FMS for implementation, allowing for continuous and automatic selection of a safer and more efficient route.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional weather alerts and standard weather avoidance procedures are used, then pilots receive warnings about potential threats, but the system is limited to monitoring specific routes at specific times and cannot provide continuous automatic alternate path selection
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically monitoring threats along planned flight paths and generating alternate routes without requiring continuous pilot intervention. The processor continuously compares threat information with planned paths and autonomously proposes alternative routes, allowing the aircraft management system to serve itself rather than requiring constant human analysis and decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous monitoring of threat information along planned flight paths, rather than periodic checks. The processor continuously compares threat data with planned routes and maintains updated alternate path options, ensuring that the system is always ready to provide current and relevant routing advice as conditions change during the flight planning process.
2Reliability
If alternate routes are selected to avoid threats, then flight safety is improved, but time and fuel efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously when generating alternate routes, including departure time, arrival time, altitude, and lateral path. By adjusting these parameters in combination rather than making single-parameter changes, the system optimizes the balance between safety and efficiency, finding routes that avoid threats while minimizing impacts on flight time and fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds temporal dimension to route planning by considering not just spatial alternate paths but also alternative times of departure and arrival. This dimensional expansion allows the system to propose solutions that utilize time windows to avoid threats, such as departing earlier or later to circumnavigate hazardous weather or restricted airspace, thereby reducing the need for purely spatial detours that increase flight time.
3Ease of operation
If manual intervention is required for route selection, then decision-making control remains with the operator, but productivity and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback by displaying generated alternate paths to the operator for review and confirmation. This feedback mechanism allows operators to maintain control over final routing decisions while benefiting from automated analysis. The operator receives processed information about threat comparisons and suggested routes, enabling informed decision-making without requiring manual computation or analysis of raw threat data.
4Reliability
If route changes are made to avoid threats, then safety is improved, but additional costs and wear on aircraft increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by generating only the necessary alternate paths and time adjustments needed to avoid specific threats, rather than implementing comprehensive route changes. It evaluates the severity and location of threats to determine the minimum effective response, avoiding excessive action that would unnecessarily increase fuel consumption and aircraft wear while still achieving adequate safety improvement.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method may provide a real time alternative flight selection based on threat mitigation along a currently planned path at a specific time. The system and method may receive threat information associated with a specific path and compare the threat information to each leg of the path to determine if a threat may exist during that specific leg. Should a threat exist, the method may propose an alternate estimated time of departure (ETD) to mitigate the future threat. Should the alternate ETD be insufficient to mitigate the threat, the method may further propose an alternate lateral and vertical path at the original or modified ETD to successfully mitigate the threat.