Ground Obstacle Detection System with Multi-View GUI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft flight crews face challenges in detecting and avoiding obstacles during ground operations due to limited visibility and potential distractions, which can lead to inadvertent collisions with ground structures or vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A ground obstacle detection system generates a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a graphical representation of detected obstacles and an indication of an area of unknown, along with a zoom function to provide different views of the aircraft and surrounding area, helping the crew to better navigate and avoid obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual surveillance by flight crew is used to detect obstacles, then the system is simple and requires no additional equipment, but the detection capability is limited due to human factors and distractions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of sensors, processors, and graphical displays that mediate between the physical obstacle environment and the flight crew. This intermediary system detects obstacles automatically and presents processed information to the crew, eliminating reliance on direct human visual surveillance while maintaining system simplicity through integrated software-based solutions.
2Area of stationary object
If a single graphical view is provided to the flight crew, then the display is simple and easy to interpret, but the coverage of the surrounding area is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the graphical display into multiple segmented views including top-down, side, and rear perspectives of the aircraft and surrounding areas. Each segment focuses on specific zones around the aircraft, allowing comprehensive coverage of the environment while maintaining clarity through organized spatial segmentation of the graphical interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple dimensional perspectives in the graphical display, presenting two-dimensional top-down views, side profiles, and rear views simultaneously. This multi-dimensional approach enables comprehensive visualization of the surrounding area without requiring the crew to mentally rotate or interpret a single complex three-dimensional representation.
3Loss of information
If the graphical representation shows detailed views of the aircraft and surrounding area, then obstacle awareness is enhanced, but the information processing load on the crew increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing detailed graphical representations only in specific zones around the aircraft where obstacles are most likely to occur or where the aircraft is moving. Less critical areas are shown with reduced detail, optimizing the balance between information completeness and crew cognitive load by concentrating detailed information where it is most needed.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a ground obstacle detection system of an aircraft is configured to generate and display a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a graphical representation of a detected obstacle with which the aircraft may collide during a ground operation and an indication of an area of unknown associated with the detected obstacle. Instead of, in addition to, a GUI that includes an indication of an area of unknown associated with an obstacle, in some examples, a ground obstacle detection system to generate a GUI that includes at least two windows that present different views of an aircraft. At least one of the windows may include a graphical representation of an obstacle that may not be visible in the view of another window.