Low-Visibility Taxi Routing on Airport Moving Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low visibility operations pose challenges for pilots due to the lack of integrated low visibility taxi route (LVTR) display in instrument navigation systems, leading to cluttered navigation displays and increased risk of runway and taxiway incursions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for providing low visibility surface movement guidance and taxi routing by integrating low visibility taxi route information onto an airport moving map, using a processor-implemented method to cross-link the LVTR with a separate LVO plan chart, and employing visualization techniques to distinguish relevant routes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If low visibility taxi route data is constantly displayed on the navigational display, then pilot awareness is improved, but the navigation display becomes too cluttered and difficult to understand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display information by separating low visibility taxi route data from other navigation data. The system selectively displays only relevant LVTR information during low visibility conditions, rather than showing all available data simultaneously. This segmentation reduces display clutter while maintaining essential pilot awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic display characteristics that adapt to low visibility conditions. The system automatically activates enhanced LVTR display modes when low visibility is detected, and can dynamically adjust display parameters such as highlighting, color coding, and information prioritization based on the operational context, rather than using static display configurations.
2Ease of operation
If low visibility taxi route information is integrated onto the airport moving map, then navigation clarity is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges low visibility taxi route data with the existing airport moving map display system. By integrating LVTR information directly onto the familiar moving map interface rather than using separate displays or charts, the system improves navigation clarity while leveraging existing system infrastructure, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances the existing navigational display system to serve multiple functions - it can display both standard navigation data and specialized low visibility taxi route information using the same display infrastructure. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to handle different operational modes without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
3Loss of information
If pilots reference a separately displayed static digital chart, then complete LVO plan information is available, but it is technically challenging to locate relevant routes and orient current position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the airport moving map as an intermediary between the pilot and the LVO plan information. Instead of requiring direct reference to static charts, the system processes and presents filtered, context-relevant LVTR data through the dynamic moving map interface, which automatically shows the aircraft's current position and highlights relevant routes, eliminating the need for manual chart interpretation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems for low visibility surface movement guidance for an aircraft navigating an airport environment. The system includes an avionic display module on an aircraft, configured to receive ownship data and generate an avionic display on a display device, and to respond to display commands. The system also includes a low voltage (LV) conditions module, configured to: receive weather data and determine when low voltage LV conditions are occurring; and, responsive to determining that LV conditions are occurring, (i) generate display commands to reconfigure the avionic display to present the LVO plan, rendered in accordance with a preprogrammed visualization scheme for rendering LV features in the LVO plan, and (ii) calculate an optimized taxi route for the aircraft to a target airport point of interest, as a function of the LVO plan. The system generates display commands to render the optimized taxi route on the reconfigured avionic display.