Off-Scale Traffic Display System for Aircraft Situational Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft cockpit displays lack effective situational awareness of off-scale traffic, particularly ground traffic, which can lead to delayed detection of potential conflicts during taxi, takeoff, and landing, as they rely on external visual information and radio communications, and the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) does not provide alerts for ground traffic or traffic beyond a certain altitude.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft traffic display system that includes an ownship location finder, a traffic information collector, and an off-scale traffic processor to monitor and indicate off-scale traffic beyond the selected display range, providing graphical or alphanumeric information, including identification, bearing, speed, and time to intersection, to enhance flight crew awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the display range is limited to show only traffic within selected range (e.g., 0.5nm or 1nm), then the display clarity and focus on local features is improved, but the awareness of off-scale traffic is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to the display by showing historical positions of off-scale traffic as trails extending from the current position. This allows pilots to see traffic that has moved in and out of the display range, maintaining awareness of traffic trends without cluttering the current display view. The trail history provides contextual information about traffic movement patterns beyond the immediate display range.
2Loss of information
If all off-scale traffic is displayed, then complete traffic awareness is improved, but the display becomes cluttered and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different display qualities to different types of traffic based on their relevance to the aircraft. On-scale traffic receives full display treatment with icons and detailed information. Off-scale traffic is displayed with simplified trails and less prominent indicators. This differential treatment allows the display to convey essential information about off-scale traffic while maintaining visual hierarchy and preventing clutter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential information from off-scale traffic data - specifically the positional trail history - and displays it in a simplified form. Full traffic details (icons, labels, comprehensive data) are omitted for off-scale traffic, retaining only the movement pattern information that is most relevant for situational awareness without adding visual clutter.
3Device complexity
If the display shows only current traffic positions, then the display simplicity is maintained, but the ability to predict future conflicts is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent displays the historical trail of off-scale traffic positions, which serves as a preliminary indicator of future conflict potential. By showing where traffic has been and its movement pattern, pilots can anticipate future positions and potential conflicts before the traffic enters the protected zones or becomes on-scale. This preliminary visual information enables earlier decision-making and conflict avoidance planning.
Data Source
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AI summary
A aircraft traffic display system, aircraft including the display system and a method of displaying aircraft and vehicle traffic in the display system. The system includes an ownship location finder determining ownship location and maps, including airport maps stored in map storage. A traffic information collector collecting information on airport and other traffic. A local display displays ownship on a moving map at a selected range and all airport traffic within range, or a filtered subset thereof. An off-scale traffic processor monitors off-scale traffic beyond the selected range and identifies of-interest off-scale traffic. The local display also provides an indication of any of interest off-scale traffic. The indication may visibly indicate status (e.g., air or ground) of respective said off-scale traffic and may include traffic specific information.