Flight Management System Speed Profile Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flight management systems (FMS) cannot automatically manage AT OR ABOVE speed constraints across all flight phases, leading to manual operation and increased complexity, cost, and risk of rework in calculating acceleration points.

Innovation Solution

A method for managing and automatically controlling speed profiles during CLIMB, CRUISE, DESCENT, and APPROACH phases, including determining CAS and Mach speed profiles, Cross-Over altitudes, and end-of-applicability criteria to facilitate automatic adherence to AT and AT OR ABOVE speed constraints, allowing aircraft to observe all speed constraints and transition between CAS and Mach modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual management of AT OR ABOVE speed constraints is used, then flexibility in handling complex speed constraints is maintained, but pilot workload increases and operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepilot workloadVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The FMS automatically calculates and manages speed profiles including AT OR ABOVE constraints without requiring pilot intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously determining acceleration points, calculating speed constraints, and adjusting the flight profile to comply with AT OR ABOVE speed requirements at specified waypoints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If backward calculation process is used to determine acceleration points, then speed constraints can be satisfied, but calculation complexity increases and response time performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed constraint complianceVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using backward calculation from the constraint point, the invention inverts the approach by performing forward calculation from the current position. The FMS calculates acceleration points by projecting forward through the flight profile, determining where speed constraints will be encountered and preparing the appropriate speed adjustments in advance, thereby reducing calculation complexity and improving response time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If AT OR ABOVE speed constraints are managed manually, then system complexity is reduced, but reliability of constraint compliance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstraint complianceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The FMS is enhanced with universal functionality to handle all types of speed constraints (AT, AT OR BELOW, and AT OR ABOVE) through a unified automated process. The same computational engine and control logic that manage traditional speed constraints are extended to automatically handle AT OR ABOVE constraints, ensuring consistent reliability across all constraint types without requiring separate manual procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If complete flight profile management is implemented, then all flight phases are covered, but calculation complexity and development cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight phase coverageVSAvoidcalculation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flight profile is segmented into distinct phases (climb, cruise, descent, approach) with specific speed constraint handling rules for each phase. The FMS applies phase-specific algorithms that simplify calculations by considering only the relevant constraints and performance parameters for the current phase, rather than processing all possible constraints simultaneously across all phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20240363011A1Method for constructing and automatically controlling a speed profile comprising at or at or above speed restrictions

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 THALES SA

AI summary

A method for managing speed constraints of a flight plan of an aircraft, the method includes the following steps: identifying a current flight phase, determining CAS speed profile, the speed profile establishing a behavior of the aircraft with respect to a speed setpoint, determining a Mach speed profile, the Mach speed profile establishing a behavior of the aircraft with respect to a Mach setpoint, the Mach setpoint being a speed setpoint transcribed into an equivalent Mach number, determining a Cross-Over altitude, the Cross-Over altitude being an altitude of transition from an automatic control of the aircraft according to the CAS speed profile to an automatic control according to the Mach speed profile, determining an end-of-applicability criterion of the speed profile and of the Mach speed profile.