Predictive Terrain Alert System for Proportionate Pilot Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) provide overly general alerts for terrain collision risks, leading to unnecessary and constraining avoidance maneuvers, as they lack precise characterization of the risk level, prompting a need for more nuanced alerts to allow pilots to proportion their responses effectively.
Innovation Solution
An airborne system that includes a detector and alert generator capable of pinpointing terrain collision risks by comparing aircraft trajectory data with a cartographic representation, providing specific alerts based on penetration locations within defined protection volumes, and verifying aircraft capabilities to regain a safe altitude or adjust climb slope as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system provides general terrain collision alerts, then terrain safety is ensured, but unnecessary constraining avoidance maneuvers are triggered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the alert response based on the specific location of terrain penetration within the protection volume. Instead of treating all terrain collisions uniformly, the system identifies whether penetration occurs in the first part (extrapolation phase) or second part (avoidance maneuver phase) of the trajectory, and provides tailored alerts accordingly. This localized differentiation allows pilots to receive proportionate guidance rather than always executing full avoidance maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of alert characterization from general to specific by incorporating the spatial position of terrain penetration as a distinguishing factor. By monitoring where exactly the terrain model penetrates the protection volume (in terms of longitudinal profile position), the system transforms the alert information to reflect the actual risk level, enabling proportionate pilot responses rather than uniform avoidance maneuvers.
2Reliability
If the system requires standard vertical avoidance maneuvers for all terrain alerts, then collision prevention is achieved, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing differentiated alert responses based on the specific characteristics of each terrain collision risk. When penetration occurs in the first part of the trajectory (extrapolation phase), the system issues a first type of alert allowing for simpler stabilization maneuvers. When penetration occurs in the second part (avoidance phase), it issues a second type of alert requiring full avoidance maneuvers. This localized differentiation maintains collision prevention while improving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by requiring only the necessary level of avoidance maneuver based on the actual risk assessed. Instead of always demanding full vertical avoidance maneuvers, the system sometimes permits simpler stabilization or altitude adjustment maneuvers when the terrain penetration occurs in less critical zones. This partial action approach maintains adequate safety margins while reducing unnecessary operational constraints.
3Measurement precision
If the system provides detailed penetration location information, then alert precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for precise alerting without implementing the full complexity of complete trajectory analysis. Specifically, it extracts the longitudinal profile position of terrain penetration (first part vs. second part) as the key distinguishing factor. By taking out only this critical spatial parameter rather than analyzing all possible trajectory variables, the system achieves improved alert precision while limiting the increase in system complexity to manageable levels.
Data Source
AI summary
This Terrain Awareness and Warning System produces a new “Too Low Terrain” predictive alert of “Caution” type when the crew of the aircraft has the possibility of resolving a detected risk of collision with the terrain without interrupting the current maneuver to stabilize at a safety altitude by a leveling-off maneuver, without performing a vertical avoidance maneuver. To do this, it measures the ability of the airplane to avoid the terrain with a sufficient margin without performing a vertical avoidance maneuver, taking into account the location or locations of the penetration or penetrations of the terrain along an alert prober C as well as the capacity of the aircraft to level off knowing the flight conditions.