Formation Flight Position Display for Obstructed Visual Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In formation flying, flight leaders face challenges in maintaining real-time knowledge of aircraft positions, especially when visual obstruction or radio communication failures occur, hindering effective formation changes.
Innovation Solution
A formation monitoring system that includes a display in the aircraft cockpit providing a representative view of the formation, tracking aircraft movements, and allowing interactive formation changes, utilizing GPS and wireless communication for real-time position updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct visualization or radio communication is used to determine aircraft position in formation, then real-time position knowledge can be obtained, but the system becomes vulnerable to visual obstruction and inconsistent communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces GPS satellites and ground stations as intermediary elements that provide position information indirectly. Instead of relying on direct line-of-sight visualization or radio communication between aircraft, the system uses satellite-based positioning signals that penetrate through visual obstructions and provide consistent position data regardless of atmospheric conditions or communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual system of direct observation and radio-based communication with an electronic satellite positioning system. This substitution eliminates the limitations of visual range and radio communication consistency by using electromagnetic signals from GPS satellites that provide continuous, reliable position information independent of visual or communication conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the flight leader manually tracks each aircraft position through visualization or radio, then formation control can be maintained, but the flight leader's workload increases and response time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a system where aircraft automatically report their GPS position data without requiring manual intervention from the flight leader. The formation monitoring system automatically receives, processes, and displays position information from all aircraft in the formation, eliminating the need for the flight leader to manually track each aircraft through visualization or radio communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a continuous feedback loop where GPS position data from all aircraft is automatically transmitted to the flight leader's display system. This real-time feedback provides the flight leader with current formation status without requiring active monitoring or manual communication, enabling rapid response to formation deviations while reducing workload.
3Loss of information
If conventional visualization methods are used to monitor formation, then the flight leader can see aircraft positions, but the system fails when the flight leader is blocked from seeing aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional visual observation (line-of-sight through the sky) to three-dimensional satellite-based positioning. GPS satellites positioned in space provide position information that is not constrained by visual line-of-sight, allowing the flight leader to obtain position data for all aircraft regardless of their spatial arrangement or visual obstructions in the formation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A formation monitoring system for a plurality of aircraft flying in formation is disclosed. The system includes a display (120) for a leader aircraft configured to display a current position of one or more aircraft of the plurality of aircraft. The system further includes a controller (208) for the leader aircraft configured to at least one of receive a current position signal from one or more aircraft of the plurality of aircraft, calculate the current position of the one or more aircraft of the plurality of aircraft, or calculate a target position of the one or more aircraft of the plurality of aircraft. The system further includes a transmitter (206) configured to transmit the target position signal to the one or more aircraft of the plurality of aircraft.