Flight Plan Routing Using Severity-Based Cost Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current navigation systems categorize avoidance areas as either traversable or non-traversable, failing to account for varying severity levels, which limits the ability to optimize flight paths based on the type and severity of avoidances such as turbulence or icing.
Innovation Solution
A processing circuit calculates a normalized cost for flight routes based on avoidance categories and severity levels, using multiplier values to assess the cost of traversing avoidance areas, and identifies areas as non-traversable when the cost exceeds a threshold, providing a visual representation of the flight route and avoidance areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If avoidance areas are classified as either traversable or non-traversable, then the navigation system can generate flight paths, but the system cannot account for varying severity levels of avoidances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the binary classification system into a multi-parameter system by introducing severity levels (e.g., light, moderate, severe) and associated multiplier values. Each avoidance category (turbulence, icing, wind shear) has distinct severity levels with different multiplier values, allowing the system to differentiate between various degrees of avoidance importance without fundamentally changing the classification structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the cost of traversing avoidance areas based on real-time severity assessments. The normalized cost calculation incorporates severity-specific multiplier values that can be adjusted based on aircraft type, environmental conditions, and operator preferences, making the classification system adaptive rather than static.
2Productivity
If the system calculates normalized cost based on distance and severity multipliers, then flight paths can be optimized, but the calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the avoidance area traversal into discrete cost components: base distance cost and severity-based multiplier cost. The normalized cost is calculated as the sum of these segmented components, allowing for systematic optimization while maintaining manageable calculation complexity through modular cost assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes multiplier values for each avoidance category and severity level before flight planning. These pre-calculated multipliers are stored and retrieved during flight path optimization, eliminating the need for complex real-time severity assessments and reducing computational burden during actual route calculation.
3Ease of operation
If operators can configure avoidance categories and severity levels, then decision-making is improved, but the system requires more input parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal configuration framework that works across different aircraft types and operational contexts. The same avoidance categories (turbulence, icing, wind shear) and severity level structure apply universally, allowing operators to configure once and use across multiple scenarios without needing separate parameter sets for different situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces configuration files as an intermediary layer between operator input and flight path calculation. These configuration files store pre-defined avoidance categories, severity levels, and multiplier values, acting as a mediator that structures operator preferences into standardized parameters that the navigation system can process efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for an airborne platform includes a display device and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive avoidance configuration information having a plurality of avoidance categories and severity levels. The processing circuit is further configured to receive flight plan information relating to a flight route from a starting location to an ending location, an avoidance area, an indication of an avoidance category corresponding to the avoidance area, and an indication of a severity level. The processing circuit is further configured to calculate a normalized cost associated with the flight route and compare the normalized cost to a threshold value. The processing circuit is further configured to identify the avoidance area as non-traversable when the normalized cost exceeds the threshold value. The processing circuit is further configured to generate a display providing a visual representation of the normalized cost, the flight route, and the avoidance area.