Runway Exit Selection System for Aircraft Cost Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft landing procedures do not optimize runway exit selection to minimize overall operational costs, which include maintenance, fuel, and operational costs, and are often dependent on manual braking adjustments or fixed braking force settings.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determines the optimal runway exit by predicting taxi-in times, maintenance costs, and overall costs based on various factors, including brake wear, fuel, and operational costs, and provides a recommendation to the pilot through an automatic braking system or manual guidance cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual braking adjustments are used to land at a certain runway exit, then the pilot can control the landing position based on experience, but the overall operational cost of the aircraft is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates and determines the optimal runway exit based on multiple cost factors (maintenance, fuel, operational costs) without requiring manual pilot input for cost optimization, allowing the pilot to focus on safe operation while the system handles cost optimization autonomously
Solution Approach 2:
The system evaluates multiple runway exit options by changing the parameter of exit position and calculates the associated cost parameters (brake wear, fuel consumption, operational time) to identify the optimal exit that minimizes overall operational costs
2Device complexity
If fixed braking force settings are applied to land at a certain runway exit, then the braking process is simplified, but the solution only takes the required braking force into account and does not propose an optimal runway exit or reduce overall operational cost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it calculates required braking force for safe landing, evaluates multiple runway exit options, predicts associated costs (maintenance, fuel, operational), and recommends the optimal exit, transforming a single-function braking system into a multi-function cost optimization system
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of multiple cost factors (maintenance costs based on brake wear, fuel costs, operational costs) before the landing decision is made, allowing the pilot to select the optimal runway exit in advance based on comprehensive cost analysis rather than reacting during the landing process
3Productivity
If the runway exit selection is not optimized, then the landing procedure is simple, but the overall operational cost of the aircraft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the pilot by presenting the calculated optimal runway exit and associated cost savings, enabling the pilot to make an informed decision that balances operational simplicity with cost optimization based on real-time calculations of maintenance, fuel, and operational costs
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus determines a plurality of runway exits reachable by the aircraft, and applied braking force of the aircraft to land at respective ones of the plurality of runway exits and predicts taxi-in times of the aircraft to land at respective ones of the plurality of runway exits. The apparatus also predicts maintenance costs of the aircraft to land at respective ones of the plurality of runway exits based on the applied braking force and predicts overall costs of the aircraft to land at respective ones of the plurality of runway exits based on the taxi-in times and the maintenance costs. The apparatus further determines the runway exit among the plurality of runway exits, the runway exit having a minimal overall cost among the overall costs and presents a recommendation of the runway exit for landing the aircraft to a user.