HUD Conformal Runway Mapping with ADS-B Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current head-up displays (HUD) in aircraft lack integration of surface guidance systems information, such as taxiing, takeoff, and landing rollout guidance, requiring pilots to switch between displays for conformal and non-conformal views, which can be obstructed by environmental conditions like snow or fog.
Innovation Solution
A HUD system comprising a projector, combiner, and computer that provides conformal mapping of airport runway and taxiway symbols, ADS-B advisory information, and traffic alerts, allowing pilots to view essential information without leaving their primary field of view, including enhanced readability of obscured signs and virtual representation of hold lines and traffic advisories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilots use separate displays for conformal and non-conformal views, then each display can be optimized for its specific function, but pilots must switch between displays which reduces situational awareness and increases workload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conformal surface guidance information and non-conformal plan view information onto a single head-up display. The system overlays multiple layers of information (runway guidance, taxiway guidance, hold lines, and plan view) on the same display surface, allowing pilots to access all necessary navigation information without switching between separate displays, thereby maintaining situational awareness while reducing workload
2Reliability
If environmental conditions like snow or fog obscure external signs, then pilots cannot visually confirm airport features, but adding multiple display layers increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates virtual copies of physical airport features (runways, taxiways, hold lines) and displays them on the head-up display. When environmental conditions obscure the actual features, the virtual representations provide reliable visual confirmation of airport layout and guidance information without requiring pilots to physically see the obscured features
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different display characteristics to different regions of the display. Conformal information is displayed with specific visual properties optimized for overlaying on the external view, while plan view information uses different visual characteristics. This localized optimization allows multiple types of information to coexist on the same display without excessive complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If HUD provides comprehensive surface guidance information, then pilots have all navigation information in one display, but the system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments navigation information into distinct functional layers: conformal surface guidance layer, non-conformal plan view layer, and overlay information layer. Each layer processes and displays specific types of information independently, allowing the system to provide comprehensive guidance information while managing complexity through modular information architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A head-up display (HUD) is disclosed. The HUD is provided on board an aircraft. The HUD comprises a projector and a combiner. The combiner enables viewing of the world outside of the combiner and also allows viewing of information provided from the projector. A computer is coupled to the projector and provides airport runway and taxiway symbols conformally mapped onto the combiner. Also provided on the combiner is a mapping of automatic dependent surveillance broadcast advisory information and traffic onto the combiner.