Reconfigurable Avionics Synoptic System Heatmap

Solution Overview

Problem

The development and certification of custom synoptic and crew-alerting message systems for aircraft are costly and time-consuming, as they require bespoke solutions without the use of commercial-off-the-shelf components, leading to prolonged wait times for customers and high development costs.

Innovation Solution

A reconfigurable synoptic system utilizing commercial-off-the-shelf components, which receives files indicating connected avionics components and their criticality, dividing display space based on component importance to create a weighted display layout, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration and certification efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If custom synoptic systems are developed specifically for each aircraft, then the system meets specific customer requirements and certification compliance, but development costs and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization to customer requirementsVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal synoptic system platform that can be configured through software to meet different customer requirements. The system uses a common hardware architecture with reconfigurable display parameters, allowing the same physical system to serve multiple aircraft types and customer specifications without requiring custom hardware development for each case.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs dynamic reconfiguration capabilities where display parameters such as box size, position, and component visibility can be adjusted through software configuration files. This allows the system to adapt to different customer requirements and operational modes without physical reconfiguration, reducing development time while maintaining customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If custom synoptic systems are developed specifically for each aircraft, then the system meets specific customer requirements and certification compliance, but development costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization to customer requirementsVSAvoiddevelopment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal synoptic system platform that can be configured through software to meet different customer requirements. The system uses a common hardware architecture with reconfigurable display parameters, allowing the same physical system to serve multiple aircraft types and customer specifications without requiring custom hardware development for each case.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses configuration files that define display parameters and component weights, allowing rapid replication of customized displays without physical reconfiguration. Once a configuration is established for one customer, it can be copied and adapted for similar applications, significantly reducing development costs while maintaining customization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If display space is divided equally among components, then the layout is simple to implement, but critical components cannot be visually prioritized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout implementation complexityVSAvoidcomponent criticality information

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different visual weights to different display components based on their criticality. Each component can have its own weight parameter that determines its box size and prominence on the display, allowing critical components to be visually prioritized while non-critical components occupy less space. This creates a heterogeneous display layout that conveys information hierarchy without requiring complex overall restructuring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes display parameters such as box size, position, and visibility based on component weight values. By adjusting these parameters dynamically according to criticality assessments, the system can emphasize important components while maintaining a manageable layout structure. The weight parameter serves as a control variable that automatically adjusts display characteristics without manual layout redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11459105B2Reconfigurable avionics systems heatmap

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

A reconfigurable synoptic system utilizes commercial-off-the-shelf components to receive files indicating all of the connected avionics component and defining a weight of each component corresponding to the criticality of the component. The system divides the available display space into boxes that occupy space on the display based to the criticality of the corresponding component. Avionics components may be assemblages of sub-components, in which case the space designated for the component may be further divided according to its sub-components or the space designated for the component may be selectable to produce a similar display of only sub-components.