Rotorcraft Landing Point Indication System Using Camera Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotorcraft pilots face challenges in maintaining situational awareness during takeoff and landing, particularly in environments with limited visibility, which restricts the decision point height and affects the aircraft's weight capacity, as traditional methods like chin bubble windows and side windows provide inadequate downward visibility.
Innovation Solution
A landing point indication system that includes an imaging system, data repositories, a pilot image generator, and a display, which provides real-time visual representation of the area underneath the rotorcraft, overlaying symbols to indicate the aircraft's position and predicted landing point, using either fixed or gimbaled cameras, and integrating this information into the cockpit display to enhance pilot awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional methods like chin bubble windows and side windows are used to provide downward visibility, then the pilot can see the landing area, but the decision point height is restricted and weight capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cameras to capture images of the landing area and creates a visual copy that is displayed on screens in the cockpit. This allows the pilot to see the area below without physical windows, eliminating the need to compromise structural integrity for visibility purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical windows (chin bubble windows, side windows) with an electronic imaging and display system. Cameras mounted on the aircraft capture images that are processed and displayed on cockpit screens, substituting mechanical optical paths with electronic ones.
2Ease of operation
If the pilot looks at primary displays during takeoff, then flight information is monitored, but downward visibility of the landing site is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the downward visibility function with the primary display system by integrating camera images and landing point indicators directly into the cockpit displays. The pilot can monitor both flight information and landing site conditions on the same display without shifting attention between separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a vertical dimension to the display information by showing images of the area below the aircraft on horizontal cockpit screens. This allows the pilot to perceive three-dimensional spatial relationships (including downward view) through a two-dimensional display interface.
3Loss of information
If cameras are mounted on the rotorcraft to capture images, then real-time visual representation is provided, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs cameras that serve multiple functions: capturing images for landing point indication, providing situational awareness of the landing area, and potentially recording for post-flight analysis. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single system addition.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to one embodiment, a landing point indication system (300) includes an image provider (310), a rotorcraft position provider (330), a pilot image generation system (340), and a display device (350). The image provider (310) is operable to provide a visual representation of an area underneath a rotorcraft. The rotorcraft position provider (330) is operable to provide information indicating a position of the rotorcraft. The pilot image generation system (340) is operable to generate a supplemented visual representation. The supplemented visual representation includes the visual representation of the area underneath the aircraft and information indicating a position of the rotorcraft relative to the visual representation. The display device (350) is operable to display the supplemented visual representation within the rotorcraft.