Primary Flight Display Weather-Terrain Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Electronic Flight Information Systems (EFIS) do not effectively combine weather information and terrain warnings on a Navigation Display (ND) to aid pilots in avoiding hazardous conditions during flight.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for displaying critical navigational data on a primary flight display by superimposing a terrain warning indicator over weather information, using color and pattern indicators to alert pilots of potential hazards, with dimming of weather data based on proximity to terrain threats to maintain situational awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If weather information and terrain warnings are displayed separately on different displays, then each display can show its data clearly without interference, but the pilot must monitor multiple displays which increases workload and reduces situational awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines weather information and terrain warnings into a single integrated display system. The weather data and terrain indicators are overlaid on the same navigation display, allowing pilots to view both types of critical information simultaneously without switching between multiple displays. This integration directly addresses the contradiction by reducing the number of displays to monitor while maintaining complete information availability.
2Reliability
If terrain warning indicators are displayed with high visibility over weather information, then pilots can quickly identify terrain hazards, but the weather information becomes less visible and may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the terrain warning indicators semi-transparent rather than completely opaque. This allows the terrain hazards to be prominently displayed and easily detectable while simultaneously permitting the underlying weather information to remain visible through the semi-transparent terrain layer. Different regions of the display have different transparency properties optimized for their specific information type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color coding and intensity variations to differentiate between terrain warnings and weather information. Terrain warnings are displayed in distinct colors or with enhanced intensity to ensure they capture pilot attention, while weather information is presented in contrasting colors that remain distinguishable even when overlaid. This color differentiation maintains the visibility of both information types simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method and system for displaying critical navigational data on a primary flight display to a pilot of an aircraft. The method includes providing an image representative of weather information on a primary fight display and superimposing an image representative of a terrain warning indicator over at least part of the image representative of weather information.