Aircraft Vision Runway Position Check Using Approach Lights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enhanced vision systems for aircraft landing in low visibility conditions rely on synthetic runway markings that may be inaccurate due to positioning errors, posing a risk of landing before the actual runway threshold if discrepancies are not detected by the pilot's visual judgment.
Innovation Solution
An inconsistency detection system that identifies and characterizes transverse and axial rows of approach lighting system lights using optical images, compares these signatures with a database of known patterns, and calculates the actual runway position, generating a warning if the displayed position differs significantly from the actual position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If synthetic runway markings are used in enhanced vision systems, then the pilot can see the runway position in low visibility conditions, but positioning errors may lead to inaccurate runway location indication
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously compares the indicated runway position (based on aircraft positioning and topographic data) with the actually observed runway position, detecting discrepancies and providing feedback to alert the pilot when the difference exceeds a threshold, thereby resolving the accuracy-reliability contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and comparison of runway positions during the approach phase before landing, allowing the pilot to be alerted to positioning errors in advance and take corrective action, preventing inaccurate runway location indication
2Reliability
If the pilot performs visual judgment to verify runway position, then landing safety can be maintained, but the decision-making time is increased in low visibility conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The automated inconsistency detection system provides immediate feedback to the pilot when runway position discrepancies are detected, eliminating the need for prolonged visual verification and enabling faster, more reliable landing decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the pilot's manual visual judgment with an automated optical detection and comparison system that rapidly identifies runway position inconsistencies, reducing decision-making time while maintaining or improving landing safety
3Ease of operation
If approach lighting systems are used to mark the runway, then the runway can be located in very low visibility conditions, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the approach lighting system as an intermediary reference object that is easily detectable and characteristic, simplifying the overall process by providing a reliable intermediate marker for runway location verification without requiring direct observation of the runway itself in very low visibility
Data Source
AI summary
An improved aircraft vision system includes a display, a system for detecting inconsistencies between a displayed position of a synthetic depiction and the actual position on the display of a runway and/or of an approach lighting system. The inconsistency detection system includes a module for identifying a row of lights extending transversely to the runway, a system for characterising the at least one row of lights identified in order to determine a given position of the at least one row of lights relative to the runway from among a plurality of possible positions extending transversely to the runway and a calculation module configured to calculate an actual position on the display of the runway and/or approach lighting system using the determined position of the at least one row of lights.