Low Visibility Runway Categorization System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airport runway operational categorization and degradation procedures are manual, prone to human error, and lack automation, which is critical in low visibility conditions where safety and equipment reliability are paramount.
Innovation Solution
A modular, fault-tolerant LVP system that monitors equipment and weather conditions, providing real-time information to airport controllers to automatically or manually adjust the runway category, ensuring maximum safety by interfacing with various systems and using open-source software to manage redundant operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual procedures are used for categorization and degradation of runway operations, then flexibility and human judgment are maintained, but human error increases and safety decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors equipment status, collects data from multiple sources, and determines runway category without requiring continuous human intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously performing the categorization function while maintaining the ability to interface with controllers when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of category determination with an automated computer-based system that collects equipment data, processes information according to predefined criteria, and automatically determines the appropriate runway category, eliminating human error in the process.
2Measurement precision
If automated systems are implemented for real-time monitoring and categorization, then safety and accuracy improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: equipment status monitoring, data collection, category determination logic, and controller interface. Each module performs a specific function, making the overall complex system manageable through clear separation of concerns and independent verification of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system is designed to handle multiple equipment types and scenarios through a unified architecture that can interface with various runway equipment while applying universal categorization rules, reducing complexity by avoiding the need for separate specialized systems for each equipment type.
3Reliability
If comprehensive equipment monitoring is performed to ensure safety, then reliability improves, but the time required for manual assessment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors equipment status rather than performing periodic manual assessments. Data collection and category determination occur in real-time as equipment status changes, eliminating delays associated with manual reassessment and ensuring the runway category always reflects current conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where equipment status information is constantly collected, processed, and used to update the runway category determination. This automated feedback mechanism ensures rapid response to equipment changes without requiring manual intervention, significantly reducing assessment time while maintaining comprehensive monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to operate a system in support of air traffic control of an airport provides, automatically, to operators, in the same screen, status information for the systems required during low visibility operation, meteorological information and runway category of operation, making easier the operation of the controller and increasing airport security. The method comprises monitoring the status of all low visibility operation systems, calculation of a category more convenient for the operation of the airport runway, and degradation automatic (down grade) when it degrades a key system and upgrade or downgrade manually the category by operator decision. The method includes an architecture oriented for high availability with three blocks (Management, Input/Output and Visualization) and uses an application “alive” that performs automatic switching between servers, in case of failure or malfunction of one of them, increasing the availability of the system.