Integrated Aircraft Control Unit Consolidating Communication and Surveillance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional aircraft cockpit controls require multiple dedicated panels for various systems, leading to significant weight, space, and cost issues due to the number of panels needed, as well as high inventory costs for replacement parts.
Innovation Solution
An integrated aircraft control unit that consolidates communication, surveillance, navigation, and other systems into a single module with a display screen and user interface, reducing the number of physical panels and allowing for expansion or upgrade of controlled systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple dedicated control panels are installed for various aircraft systems, then each system can be controlled independently and reliably, but the total weight and space requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dedicated control panels for communication, surveillance, navigation and other aircraft systems into a single integrated control unit. This consolidation maintains full control functionality for each system while eliminating the weight and space of multiple separate panels, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated control unit is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously, serving as a universal control interface for various aircraft systems that previously required separate dedicated panels. This multi-functionality approach allows one device to replace many, reducing overall system weight while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If multiple dedicated control panels are installed for various aircraft systems, then each system has dedicated control capability, but the aisle stand space is exceeded and installation becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple dedicated control panels into a single integrated control unit, consolidating the physical footprint from multiple panels to one unit. This maintains dedicated control capability through software-based system selection while dramatically reducing the physical space required in the aisle stand.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated control unit provides universal control capability across multiple aircraft systems through a single interface. The system can be programmed to access and control communication, surveillance, navigation and other systems, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated panels and the space they would occupy.
3Reliability
If multiple dedicated control panels are installed and replaced frequently, then system functionality is maintained, but installation and replacement costs increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions into a single integrated unit, reducing the total number of panels that need to be installed and replaced. This consolidation directly reduces installation costs and the logistical burden of managing multiple panel inventories, while maintaining full system functionality through integrated control software.
4Ease of repair
If sufficient replacement panels are stocked for each dedicated control panel, then replacement can be performed quickly, but inventory costs increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple control panels into one integrated unit, which dramatically reduces the variety of replacement parts needed. Instead of stocking replacement panels for multiple different systems, airlines only need to stock a small number of the single integrated control unit model, reducing inventory requirements while maintaining fast replacement capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An aircraft control unit (106) has modules (212,214,216,218) for interfacing with various systems of an aircraft to integrate control of the systems. The modules include a communication module (212) configured to be coupled to a communication system of the aircraft and a surveillance module (214) configured to be coupled to a surveillance system of the aircraft. The aircraft control unit also includes a display screen (202) for displaying information and a user interface (204) usable to interact with the modules. Each of the modules is configured to display information on the display screen and to receive user input from the user interface.