Flight Plan Variant Updating for Synchronized FMS Clones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flight management systems (FMS) create exact replicas of flight plans (clones) that do not automatically incorporate changes made to the reference plan after copying, necessitating a method to update enhanced flight plan variants.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for updating flight plan variants by generating a reference flight plan, copying a clone, modifying it with subsequent changes, and analyzing the modified clone to incorporate those changes into the reference plan, using a flight management system (FMS) and a control display unit (CDU).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If clones are created as exact replicas of reference flight plans, then the initial accuracy and consistency of flight plan data is improved, but the clones fail to automatically reflect subsequent changes to the reference plan, leading to outdated information
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the FMS continuously monitors changes to the reference flight plan and automatically propagates these changes to all associated clones. This ensures that clones remain synchronized with the reference plan while maintaining their individual analysis capabilities, resolving the contradiction between initial accuracy and ongoing information currency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing change propagation rules at the time of clone creation. The FMS pre-configures clones to automatically receive and process subsequent changes from the reference plan, ensuring that updates are applied without manual intervention and maintaining data consistency throughout the flight planning process.
2Loss of information
If manual updates are performed on each clone after copying, then the clones can reflect changes to the reference plan, but the complexity and time required for flight plan management increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the flight plan management functions by centralizing change propagation through the FMS. Instead of requiring separate manual updates for each clone, the FMS consolidates the update process by automatically detecting changes in the reference plan and propagating them to all clones simultaneously, reducing management complexity while maintaining synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by enabling clones to automatically receive and process updates from the reference plan without manual intervention. The FMS monitors changes and autonomously propagates them to relevant clones, eliminating the need for manual update operations and reducing the complexity of flight plan management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flight plan clones are used for analysis of potential changes, then mission optimization capabilities are improved, but the clones become outdated when the reference plan changes, reducing the reliability of analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism ensures that clones maintain reliability for analysis purposes by automatically receiving updates from the reference plan. This continuous synchronization allows analysts to work with current data while maintaining the adaptability to explore different mission scenarios, resolving the contradiction between optimization capability and analysis reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making clones adaptable to changes in the reference plan. Rather than being static copies, clones dynamically update themselves based on reference plan changes, allowing them to maintain both their utility for mission optimization analysis and their reliability by reflecting the current state of the reference plan.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system for updating a variant for a reference flight plan for an aircraft with a flight management system (FMS) has been developed. First, the reference flight plan is generated with the FMS. A clone of the reference flight plan is copied for analysis of potential changes to the reference flight plan. The clone of the reference flight plan is modified with any changes to the reference flight plan that occurred subsequent to copying the clone of the reference flight plan. The modified clone of the reference flight plan is then analyzed for incorporating potential changes to the reference flight plan.