Heading-Based Leg Symbology on Horizontal Situation Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face challenges in navigating heading-based flight plans as existing aircraft display systems primarily use track-based symbology, requiring mental conversion from track-based indications to heading-based paths, which can lead to increased workload and reduced situational awareness.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft display system with a processor and a horizontal situation indicator (HSI) that generates and displays symbology representing heading-based legs, including arrows, text indicators, and heading indicators on a compass card, to directly show the desired heading, facilitating the execution of heading-based flight plans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If track-based symbology is displayed on the HSI, then the display system provides standard navigation information, but the pilot must mentally convert track-based indications to heading-based paths, increasing workload and reducing situational awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying only the specific symbology elements on the HSI display to show heading-based information, while keeping the rest of the track-based navigation system unchanged. The heading-based leg symbology is selectively displayed at the appropriate location on the compass card, providing localized improvement without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary representation layer between the track-based flight plan data and the pilot's interpretation. The heading-based leg symbology acts as a mediator that translates track-based navigation information into heading-based visual cues, eliminating the need for mental conversion while maintaining compatibility with existing track-based navigation systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the HSI displays track-based flight plan information, then the display system maintains compatibility with standard navigation systems, but it cannot directly show heading-based flight plan paths directed by air traffic controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the HSI display adaptive and configurable. The system can dynamically switch between displaying track-based symbology and heading-based leg symbology depending on the flight plan type and controller instructions. This dynamic capability allows the same display system to handle both traditional track-based navigation and heading-based vector instructions without requiring separate dedicated displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the HSI to perform multiple functions: it can display both traditional track-based flight plan symbology and heading-based leg symbology on the same display. This multi-functionality allows a single display system to serve both conventional navigation needs and specialized heading-based vector instructions from air traffic controllers.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft display system includes a processor configured to receive a heading-based leg and to generate display signals based on the heading-based leg; and a display device including a horizontal situation indicator coupled to the processor. The horizontal situation indicator receives the display signals from the processor and displaying symbology representing the heading-based leg.