Semi-Regular Geometric Compression for Auto-GCAS Terrain Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance Systems (Auto-GCAS) face challenges due to the large size of digital terrain maps (DTM), which exceeds the storage capacity and computing resources of many aircraft, limiting their ability to operate effectively, and existing compression methods do not provide sufficient flexibility or allow for the use of compressed data in its compressed format.
Innovation Solution
A semi-regular geometric compression algorithm is employed to compress three-dimensional map data, dividing the terrain into regular areas and approximating them with free-edged, flat geometric surfaces, allowing for recursive division until tolerances are met, resulting in significantly smaller compressed data that can be used directly in Auto-GCAS systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard DTM is used in Auto-GCAS, then ground collision avoidance capability is achieved, but storage capacity and computing resources of aircraft are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes redundant terrain data from the standard DTM, keeping only the essential information needed for ground collision avoidance. This extraction process reduces the overall data size while preserving the critical safety functionality by selectively retaining only the most important terrain features and elevation data.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing complete terrain data and processing it, the patent inverts the approach by storing only the differences or deviations from a reference terrain model. This inversion strategy allows the system to achieve ground collision avoidance capability with significantly reduced data storage requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If existing compression methods are used, then data size is reduced, but sufficient compression level and flexibility are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic compression system that can adjust the compression level and algorithm based on the specific aircraft platform's storage capacity and computing resources. This dynamic adaptation allows the same compression framework to serve multiple aircraft types with varying resource constraints, providing both high compression ratios and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the compression process including compression ratio, data precision, and algorithm complexity to match different operational requirements. By allowing parameter adjustment, the system achieves both sufficient compression for resource-constrained aircraft and maintains the ability to use less aggressive compression when more resources are available.
3Quantity of substance
If compressed data is stored, then storage capacity is reduced, but use of compressed format is not allowed in existing systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary compression/decompression module that acts as a bridge between the compressed data storage and the Auto-GCAS processing system. This intermediary component handles the format conversion and data processing, allowing compressed data to be stored efficiently while maintaining full compatibility with the existing Auto-GCAS operational requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a system and method of compressing a DTM to be used in an Auto-GCAS system using a semi-regular geometric compression algorithm. In general, the invention operates by first selecting the boundaries of the three dimensional map to be compressed and dividing the three dimensional map data into regular areas. Next, a type of free-edged, flat geometric surface is selected which will be used to approximate terrain data of the three dimensional map data. The flat geometric surface is used to approximate terrain data for each regular area. The approximations are checked to determine if they fall within selected tolerances. If the approximation for a specific regular area is within specified tolerance, the data is saved for that specific regular area. If the approximation for a specific area falls outside the specified tolerances, the regular area is divided and a flat geometric surface approximation is made for each of the divided areas. This process is recursively repeated until all of the regular areas are approximated by flat geometric surfaces. Finally, the compressed three dimensional map data is provided to the automatic ground collision system for an aircraft.