Runway Braking Indicator from Aggregated Landing Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current landing distance calculations in aircraft are inaccurate due to simplistic runway condition assessments, such as 'wet' or 'dry', which do not account for varying levels of moisture and friction, leading to potential inaccuracies in determining the required landing distance.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft landing event system that aggregates braking performance information from multiple aircraft that have recently landed on a runway, using a processor to determine a weighted average of wheel slip and other braking performance indicators to provide a more accurate representation of the runway condition, which is then communicated to approaching aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simplified runway condition assessment ('wet' or 'dry') is used, then the system complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of runway condition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the runway condition assessment into multiple dimensions by collecting braking performance data from multiple aircraft, multiple wheels, and multiple landing events. This segmentation allows the system to capture varying friction levels across different runway sections and conditions, improving measurement precision without requiring a single complex assessment system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges braking performance information from multiple aircraft, multiple wheels per aircraft, and multiple landing events to create a comprehensive runway condition assessment. This combining approach aggregates data from diverse sources to improve the precision of friction level determination while distributing the complexity across multiple simple data collection points.
2Measurement precision
If braking performance information from multiple aircraft is aggregated, then the measurement precision of runway condition improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having each aircraft's braking system automatically generate and report its own braking performance data (wheel slip, braking force, torque) to the central system. This eliminates the need for separate measurement instruments on each aircraft, reducing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through multiple data sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where braking performance data from landed aircraft is continuously fed back to update the runway condition assessment, which then informs landing distance calculations for approaching aircraft. This feedback mechanism improves measurement precision over time while using relatively simple data processing logic.
3Reliability
If conservative landing distance calculations are used, then the safety is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to increased runway length requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter basis for landing distance calculation from simplified categorical assessments ('wet' or 'dry') to continuous friction level parameters derived from actual braking performance data. This parameter change allows for more precise landing distance calculations that reflect actual runway conditions, improving safety while reducing unnecessary conservatism and increasing runway utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by determining friction levels for specific runway sections based on localized braking performance data from aircraft that landed on those particular sections. This allows landing distance calculations to be tailored to the actual local conditions of the intended landing zone, improving safety for that specific location while optimizing runway usage by avoiding blanket conservative assumptions across the entire runway.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft landing event system is disclosed including a processor, the processor being configured to receive aircraft braking performance information from a plurality of aircraft that have performed a landing event on a particular runway. The processor is configured to determine an aircraft braking performance indicator on the basis of the aircraft braking performance information of the plurality of aircraft, and communicate the aircraft braking performance indicator to an aircraft landing system of an approaching aircraft that is about to perform a landing event on the particular runway.