Runway Position Indicator for Low Visibility Approaches
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for low visibility approaches lack sufficient integrity verification and critical availability of data sources during the final approach phase, limiting pilots' ability to fly stabilized approaches at low altitudes.
Innovation Solution
A system that provides a runway indicator with advanced instrumentation cues, using a vision system to determine the target runway's position and display it conformally, along with a highlighted runway indicator, landing zone, approach course, and virtual precision path approach indicator, supported by a database of runway lengths, widths, and locations, and utilizing a combination of GPS and inertial navigation systems for accurate positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilots rely on traditional instrument approach systems (ILS, GPS, VOR), then they can maintain basic navigation capability, but they are limited to descending only to specific decision heights (200-700 feet) due to insufficient visual references and integrity verification
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a synthetic vision display that copies and represents the actual runway environment and aircraft position. The runway indicator symbology on the display replicates visual cues of the runway threshold, centerline, and touchdown zone, allowing pilots to verify position integrity visually even when actual visual references are unavailable below decision height
Solution Approach 2:
The head-up display serves as an intermediary between the instrument approach system and the pilot. It translates navigation data from GPS, ILS, or VOR into intuitive visual symbology that provides continuous position verification, mediating the gap between traditional instruments and direct visual observation
2Measurement precision
If aircraft are equipped with imaging systems and head-up displays, then pilots can descend below published minimums with visual verification, but such systems are available at only a small percentage of runways and aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the need for physical imaging systems and specialized head-up display hardware with a software-based synthetic vision solution that runs on standard flight management systems. This substitution enables low-visibility approaches with visual verification using existing equipment at any runway with instrument approach procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The runway indicator system is designed to work universally with multiple approach types (ILS, GPS, VOR, NDB) and can be implemented on standard display systems in any aircraft. It provides low-visibility approach capability without requiring specialized equipment, making the system adaptable to any runway with published instrument approach procedures
3Ease of operation
If synthetic vision systems are used for situation awareness, then pilot situational awareness improves, but they lack sufficient integrity verification and critical availability during final approach
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously compares the displayed runway indicator position with actual aircraft position data from multiple navigation sources. It provides feedback to the pilot about position accuracy and integrity, and can alert the pilot if discrepancies are detected, ensuring continuous verification during the approach
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of navigation data integrity before allowing descent below decision height. It validates that required position data is available and accurate from at least one navigation source, and prepares the synthetic vision display in advance to provide continuous verification throughout the approach
4Manufacturing precision
If pilots fly stabilized approaches at very low altitudes (100 feet or below), then landing accuracy improves, but the requirements for data source integrity and visual verification become much more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes position verification and integrity monitoring before the pilot descends below decision height. It ensures that navigation data from multiple sources is validated and ready, cushioning against potential data failures during the critical low-altitude phase by having verification already in place
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of position verification frequency and stringency based on altitude. During the approach above decision height, standard verification applies. When descending below decision height, the system activates enhanced verification modes with more frequent position checks and stricter integrity requirements to maintain landing accuracy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A runway indicator (230) is displayed overlying a target runway for providing supplementary guidance to support the pilot's ability to fly a stabilized approach. The highlighted runway position indicator provides cues to verify that the aircraft is continuously in a position to complete a normal landing using normal maneuvering during the instrument segment of an approach and includes a landing threshold (242), a landing zone (238) on the runway, an approach line leading (240) to the runway, an outline (232) highlighting the sides and ends of the runway, a rectangle (234) larger than and surrounding the runway, and a visual precision path approach indicator (244).