Predicted Path Selection for Hazard Coding in Aircraft Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft surveillance systems cannot determine whether the aircraft will follow a constrained or unconstrained flight path without modification of the autopilot or flight management system, leading to uncertainty in hazard alerting, especially when constraints are imposed or removed.
Innovation Solution
A system that evaluates the aircraft's current location relative to predetermined constraints to predict whether the constrained or unconstrained path will be followed, using a controller and surveillance system to differentiate between on- and off-path hazards through visual and alerting algorithms without modifying the autopilot or flight management system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the surveillance system uses discrete autonomous units with precisely defined interfaces, then system reliability and certification are improved, but the ability to modify the system for enhanced hazard detection is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the hazard detection function into two segments: the core surveillance system remains as a discrete autonomous unit for reliability, while a separate path prediction module adds predictive capability. This segmentation allows the core system to maintain certification while the added module provides adaptability for improved hazard coding accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A path prediction intermediary module is introduced between the surveillance system and hazard display. This intermediary receives constraint information, predicts the aircraft path, and provides enhanced context to the hazard detection system without modifying the core autonomous units, thus maintaining reliability while adding adaptability.
2Measurement precision
If the surveillance system is modified to detect constraint cessation, then hazard detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity and certification difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary path prediction by evaluating constraint information before hazards are displayed. By predicting the aircraft path in advance based on constraint data, the system prepares accurate hazard coding information without requiring complex real-time modifications when constraints change, thus improving accuracy while limiting complexity increase.
3Reliability
If visual distinction of on-path hazards is implemented, then pilot awareness and safety are improved, but information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing enhanced visual distinction only for hazards that lie on or near the predicted aircraft path, while other hazards receive standard display treatment. This selective enhancement improves pilot awareness of critical hazards without unnecessarily processing and displaying enhanced information for all hazards, thus improving safety while limiting information processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A surveillance system detects potential hazards and alerts the pilot to them. The alerts can be modified to indicate proximity to the predicted path of the aircraft. An autopilot receives instructions from a flight management system (FMS) regarding a planned path and is subject to constraints preempting the planned path. The surveillance system selects which of the planned and a constrained path will be followed for alerting and hazard coding purposes. Means are disclosed to determine when the constrained path will be followed by comparing the current position of an aircraft, the planned path, and the constraint data. Current positions exceeding the tolerance cause the surveillance system to select the planned path as the future path to be followed. If initiation of a constraint has been detected and the current position is within the tolerance, the surveillance system selects the constrained path as the future path.