Runway Graphic Transparency for Positioning Error Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current synthetic vision systems in aircraft face challenges with positioning errors, particularly close to the ground, leading to potential landing off the runway due to assumptions about GPS quality, and existing solutions either obscure valuable terrain information or increase pilot workload with additional symbols.
Innovation Solution
The method modifies the graphical representation of landing strips based on positioning errors by changing the appearance of rectangular shapes, outlines, and markings with precision thresholds, including blurring, transparency, and contour changes, to indicate credible and non-credible areas without adding unnecessary symbols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If opaque or semi-transparent coloring is used to indicate uncredible areas, then positioning error visibility is improved, but terrain information obscuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different transparency levels to different parts of the runway representation. The central portion of the runway maintains full opacity to preserve terrain information, while only the edges or portions affected by positioning errors are rendered with reduced opacity. This selective application of transparency indicates positioning uncertainty without obscuring the entire runway or surrounding terrain.
2Measurement precision
If specific symbols are added around the runway position, then positioning accuracy indication is improved, but pilot workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates positioning accuracy information directly into the existing runway graphic representation by modifying its transparency properties, rather than adding separate symbols or indicators. The runway itself serves dual purposes: as the visual target for landing and as the indicator of positioning confidence. This merging eliminates the need for additional symbols, reducing pilot workload while maintaining clear positioning information.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding new symbolic representations, the patent uses the runway graphic itself as the carrier of positioning information. The transparency modification of the existing runway copy conveys positioning uncertainty, leveraging the familiar runway symbol rather than introducing new, unfamiliar indicators that would require additional training and interpretation.
3Measurement precision
If the runway representation is modified to show positioning errors, then error communication is improved, but graphic complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the transparency parameter of the runway graphic to communicate positioning errors. By changing this single visual parameter based on the quality of positioning data, the system effectively conveys uncertainty information without introducing complex multi-element graphics. The transparency level is dynamically adjusted according to positioning precision metrics.
Data Source
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AI summary
The general field of the invention is that of methods for three-dimensional graphical representation of at least one runway (P) on a display device of an aircraft onboard display system, said graphical representation being displayed in a synthetic view of an external landscape, said runway comprising a colored rectangular shape (R), a contour (C) surrounding said shape, and markings (M), the position of the aircraft relative to said runway being known in a horizontal plane with a first level of accuracy and in a vertical axis with a second level of accuracy. When the first level of accuracy exceeds a first threshold and/or when the second level of accuracy exceeds a second threshold, the appearance of the rectangular shape or the contour, or at least one marking, is modified.