Fly-By-Wire Vehicle Control Authority Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fly-By-Wire vehicles are vulnerable to terrorist attacks, autopilot malfunctions, and unauthorized control usurpation, necessitating a customizable system for checks and balances between onboard and ground-based navigation systems to ensure safety.
Innovation Solution
A system that integrates manual and automated navigation systems, including a processing component for digital control input, a ground-based control system with manual and autonomous piloting, and a disagreement detection system to prevent unauthorized use, allowing exclusive ground-based control in emergencies and isolating onboard systems to maintain safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground based control system is used to prevent unauthorized control, then security is improved, but loss of transmission and hacking vulnerabilities worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent components: ground-based control system, onboard flight control system, and disagreement detection system. Each segment operates semi-autonomously with defined authority boundaries, preventing single-point failures from compromising the entire system. The disagreement detection system acts as an independent monitoring segment that can identify and report conflicts between ground and onboard systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements pre-programmed emergency procedures and disagreement detection mechanisms that activate before actual failures or unauthorized actions occur. The disagreement detection system continuously monitors for potential conflicts and prepares predetermined responses, cushioning against the impact of transmission losses or hacking attempts by having countermeasures ready in advance.
2Ease of operation
If onboard manual control system is used for navigation, then pilot autonomy is improved, but vulnerability to terrorist attacks and unauthorized usurpation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The ground-based control system serves as an intermediary layer between the pilot and the aircraft's flight control surfaces. Rather than allowing direct pilot-to-surface control, commands must pass through the ground-based system which verifies authorization and legitimacy. This intermediary function maintains pilot autonomy for normal operations while preventing unauthorized usurpation through ground-based verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of pilot authorization and command legitimacy before allowing control actions to execute. The ground-based control system validates pilot credentials and monitors commands in advance, preventing unauthorized actions before they can affect the aircraft. This preliminary check maintains ease of operation for authorized pilots while blocking unauthorized access.
3Reliability
If complete reliance on ground based controls is implemented, then unauthorized onboard control is prevented, but passengers are subjected to vulnerabilities associated with loss of transmission and unauthorized electronic control
Solution Approach 1:
Different levels of control authority are assigned to different locations: ground-based control has primary authority for security-critical functions, while onboard systems retain local authority for routine operations and emergency autonomy. The disagreement detection system applies different monitoring intensities to different control functions, allowing local onboard autonomy for non-critical functions while maintaining strict ground-based control for security-sensitive operations.
4Reliability
If a customizable system of checks and balances is implemented between manual and automated systems, then security vulnerabilities are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disagreement detection system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it monitors for disagreements between ground and onboard systems, detects unauthorized access attempts, validates pilot authorization, and triggers appropriate responses. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single universal monitoring component, reducing overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive security checks.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for augmented pilot operations is provided to perform checks and balances between navigable systems and a plurality of controlling parties of a Fly-By-Wire vehicle. A ground based control system having at least one of manual controls and an autonomous piloting system, an electronic communication system including at least one of an onboard communication system, a ground based communication system, and a programmable interface for inter party communication. An on board flight control system including at least one of a primary power unit, manual flight controls, and a programmable flight management system may be provided. An onboard auxiliary navigation system including at least one of an auxiliary power control unit, a ground operated control/navigation unit, a physical barrier may prevent manual override from within the plane or cockpit, and an assignment device. A disagreement detection system may be configured to detect unauthorized use of the Fly-By-Wire vehicle.