Rotorcraft Terrain Avoidance Alerting via Dynamic Flight Phase Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terrain avoidance warning systems for rotary-wing aircraft are inadequate due to their inability to provide appropriate alerts during diverse flight maneuvers, leading to nuisance alerts and potential pilot distrust, as they are not tailored to the unique flight characteristics and environments of rotary-wing aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A method for transmitting alerts for terrain avoidance in rotary-wing aircraft that involves developing sheets of possible avoidance trajectories, with alerts triggered when these trajectories are within a predetermined distance from terrain or obstacles, using a trajectory prediction algorithm and considering the aircraft's current states and maneuverability, including phases of deceleration and climb to ensure safe overflight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terrain avoidance warning systems are adapted for rotary-wing aircraft, then terrain avoidance capability is improved, but nuisance alerts increase due to inappropriate parameters for diverse flight maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the terrain avoidance parameters based on the current flight phase detected by the piloting phase detection unit. Different flight phases (hover, takeoff, landing, cruise) have different safe distances and alert thresholds, allowing the system to adjust its behavior to match the actual flight conditions rather than using fixed parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters such as safe distance thresholds and alert trigger conditions based on the detected flight phase. During hover operations, the safe distance is set to a smaller value compared to forward flight, and the parameters are further adapted based on aircraft mass variations, enabling appropriate alert generation for each operational context
2Device complexity
If standard terrain avoidance parameters are used for all flight phases, then system simplicity is maintained, but alert accuracy deteriorates due to inappropriate parameters for specific flight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic parameter adjustment based on flight phase detection rather than static fixed parameters. The piloting phase detection unit continuously monitors flight conditions and automatically selects appropriate parameters, achieving both accuracy and reasonable complexity through automated adaptation
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects the current piloting phase and selects appropriate parameters without requiring manual intervention or complex configuration. The aircraft itself provides the information needed for parameter selection through its flight characteristics, making the system self-adapting
3Stability of the object's composition
If avoidance maneuvers are designed for fixed-wing aircraft characteristics, then standard maneuver protocols are maintained, but maneuver effectiveness deteriorates for rotary-wing aircraft due to fundamentally different piloting units
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides locally optimized avoidance maneuvers tailored to each detected piloting phase and aircraft type. Instead of applying a single standard protocol, the system selects and adjusts maneuvers based on the specific flight conditions (hover, takeoff, landing, cruise) and aircraft characteristics, making the maneuvers effective for each local context
4Adaptability or versatility
If terrain avoidance systems consider all flight phases of rotary-wing aircraft, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but system complexity increases due to diverse flight characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to different flight phases through automated detection and parameter adjustment rather than requiring separate dedicated systems for each phase. The same core terrain avoidance functionality is used across all phases, with parameters automatically adjusted based on the detected flight condition
Solution Approach 2:
The terrain avoidance warning system serves multiple flight phases (hover, takeoff, landing, cruise) with a single unified system. The piloting phase detection unit enables one system to perform multiple functions by automatically adapting its parameters to the current operational context
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and device for issuing a terrain avoidance alert for a rotary-wing aircraft, during which at least one set (N1, N2) of possible avoidance paths for said aircraft is generated to avoid a collision with the terrain being overflown. An alert is then triggered as soon as said terrain being overflown is within a distance of one of said sets (N1, N2) of possible avoidance paths less than a predetermined distance. Said avoidance paths are determined from a predetermined avoidance maneuver and the states of said aircraft, said predetermined avoidance maneuver being performed at a predetermined maximum power of said aircraft.