Helicopter Safety Envelope for 3D Emergency Retreat Trajectories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current safety systems for rotary-wing aircraft, such as helicopters, are inefficient in avoiding accidents not listed in their databases and do not effectively generate three-dimensional fallback trajectories, which can increase accident risk and consequences, especially when multiple adverse events combine.
Innovation Solution
A safety system that uses a computer to analyze real-time flight situations, including maneuverability, terrain, and obstacles, to generate a set of trajectories with varying dynamic stresses, and includes an emergency unit to alert authorities and implement corrective actions to minimize impact, such as automatic data transmission and control maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a database-based safety system is used to evaluate risks, then the system is simple to implement, but it is inefficient in identifying accidents not listed in the database and cannot handle complex sequences of adverse events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical database lookup system with a virtual reality-based simulation system. The computer generates a three-dimensional virtual environment representing the helicopter's surroundings and calculates fallback trajectories through virtual physics simulations, enabling the system to identify novel accident scenarios without relying on pre-stored database entries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional database tables to a three-dimensional virtual reality environment. The computer generates a three-dimensional virtual scene representing the helicopter's environment and calculates trajectories in three-dimensional space, adding spatial dimensionality to enhance accident scenario identification capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If standard prerecorded avoidance trajectories are used, then the system is simple to operate, but the trajectories may increase accident risk by maintaining current helicopter speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic trajectory generation where the computer calculates fallback trajectories in real-time based on the helicopter's current state and environment. The system adapts trajectories dynamically by adjusting speed profiles and maneuver parameters according to the specific accident scenario, rather than executing fixed prerecorded paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the avoidance trajectories, including speed reduction profiles and maneuver intensity. The computer calculates optimized trajectories that modify the helicopter's speed and flight path parameters to minimize accident consequences while maintaining ease of automated execution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lateral avoidance trajectories with turns are generated, then the helicopter can deviate from the initial trajectory, but the set of fallback trajectories becomes limited and requires advanced computers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex three-dimensional trajectory generation into manageable components. The computer divides the fallback trajectory calculation into vertical sections, horizontal sections, and braking trajectories, processing each segment separately to reduce computational complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different trajectory characteristics to different spatial regions. The system generates specific trajectory types for different areas: vertical sections for altitude changes, horizontal sections for lateral movement, and braking trajectories for speed reduction. This local specialization enables diverse avoidance options without requiring a single complex universal trajectory generator.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a safety system (4) designed to prevent an undesirable event during the piloting of a helicopter (1). According to the invention, this system is remarkable in that it comprises a computer (8) which, at any time t, generates a three-dimensional envelope (2) of retreat trajectories (3) of the helicopter (1), said envelope (2) being obtained by calculating, at time t, a set of positions attainable by the helicopter (1) during a predetermined flight time, said computer (8) being pre-parameterized with data relating to the flight capabilities of the helicopter (1) including at least one of the following capabilities: maximum speeds and accelerations in the three spatial directions, minimum turning radii of yaw, dive and/or pitch up, maximum mass of the transported load and maximum stresses.