Flight Management Speed Schedule Tracking for Manual Speed Deviations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flight management systems fail to accurately predict flight profiles when flight crews manually deviate from planned speed schedules, leading to inaccurate predictions due to prolonged deviations that are not automatically updated.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for continuously monitoring manual flight inputs and updating the flight management system, recalculating predictions based on these inputs, and switching to manual speed-based predictions when predefined thresholds are exceeded, allowing for seamless integration of manual speeds into the flight plan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the flight management system continues to use the original planned speed schedule after manual speed changes, then the system maintains simplicity and ease of operation, but prediction accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flight management system automatically detects manual speed deviations and self-updates the speed schedule without requiring crew intervention. The system monitors its own operational state, identifies when manual speeds are being used, and autonomously adjusts predictions based on actual manual speeds, making the system self-correcting and eliminating the need for complex manual update procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors actual aircraft speed and compares it with the planned speed schedule. When a deviation is detected that indicates manual speed input, the system feeds this information back into the prediction algorithm, adjusting future predictions based on the actual manual speeds being flown. This closed-loop feedback ensures prediction accuracy is maintained without adding significant complexity
2Measurement precision
If the crew manually updates the speed schedule frequently to reflect temporary speed changes, then prediction accuracy improves, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the speed schedule update function that would otherwise require crew action. By detecting manual speed inputs and autonomously updating the speed schedule reflectively, the system eliminates the need for crews to manually intervene, maintaining both accuracy and ease of operation simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively monitors for manual speed deviations before they become prolonged issues. By detecting temporary manual speed changes early and automatically adjusting predictions in real-time, the system prevents accuracy degradation without requiring any crew action, making the operation seamless
3Measurement precision
If the flight management system automatically detects and incorporates manual speed changes, then prediction accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing flight management system components are made multi-functional. The same sensors and processors used for basic flight management also perform automatic detection of manual speed deviations and reflective updates to the speed schedule. By making existing components universal, the system gains advanced predictive capabilities without proportionally increasing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the detection of manual speed inputs with the existing speed schedule management functions. Rather than adding separate complex subsystems, the patent integrates the detection and update logic into the existing flight management architecture, combining multiple functions into unified processing routines that minimize added complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method are provided for continuously monitoring manual flight inputs and updating a flight management system with those manual inputs. The flight management system recalculates and provides predictions based on the manual inputs. The flight management system may continuously monitor certain thresholds. The flight management system utilizes the crew entered speed schedule until a threshold is exceeded. When the flight management system is reengaged, it may utilize the manually entered speeds within the speed schedule for a current phase of the flight. The flight management system may analyze the manual input and corresponding predictions to determine if they are within or conform to certain predefined criteria before using them for automated flight.