Formation Setting Apparatus for Aircraft with Graphical Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current formation setting methods for formation flying aircraft require a high operational burden on pilots, as they need to input numerical values to change the formation, which is complex and not user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
A formation setting apparatus and method that includes a display unit to show the formation, a selector to choose an aircraft, a region calculator to determine the movable region based on distance from other aircraft, and a communication controller to transmit control signals for moving the selected aircraft to a chosen position, allowing for simple graphical operations to change the formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If numerical value input method is used to change formation, then formation setting precision is improved, but operation burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical input method (manual numerical value entry) with a graphical user interface system. The display unit shows visual representations of aircraft positions, and the input unit receives graphical input (clicking/dragging icons) instead of numerical input, substituting a cumbersome mechanical process with a more intuitive visual interaction system while maintaining formation precision through coordinate calculation from the graphical interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that translates graphical user input into formation control commands. The formation setting apparatus acts as an intermediary between the pilot's simple graphical selection and the complex formation flying control, automatically calculating positions and generating control signals without requiring the pilot to manually input numerical parameters.
2Measurement precision
If manual numerical input is required for formation changes, then control precision is maintained, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of formation positions and generates control commands automatically when the pilot makes a graphical selection. The formation setting apparatus pre-calculates the required control signals and position adjustments based on the selected formation type, so that when the pilot confirms the selection, the formation changes can be executed immediately without time-consuming manual parameter entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The formation setting apparatus serves itself by automatically generating control commands and calculating positions based on the selected formation type. Once the pilot selects a formation mode through the graphical interface, the system autonomously computes all necessary control parameters and transmits commands to the aircraft, eliminating the need for the pilot to manually input numerical values and reducing time consumption while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A formation setting apparatus includes a display unit, a selector, a region calculator, a display controller, and a communication controller. The display unit displays a formation of formation flying that includes aircrafts. The selector selects, as a first aircraft, one of the aircrafts displayed on the display unit, on a basis of an operation performed by a user. The region calculator calculates a movable region of the first aircraft, on a basis of a distance, to the first aircraft, from one or a plurality of second aircrafts of the aircrafts excluding the first aircraft. The display controller causes the calculated movable region to be displayed on the display unit. The communication controller transmits a control signal to the first aircraft when a position within the movable region displayed on the display unit is selected by the user. The control signal causes the first aircraft to move to the selected position.