Speed Brake Alerting System for Aircraft Landing Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft systems fail to provide timely and effective alerts to pilots when the speed brake is not armed during landing, leading to potential runway overrun risks due to inadequate attention in busy cockpit environments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that include a speed brake control system with an alert generator to produce visual and aural alerts when the speed brake is not armed, utilizing a processor to monitor the speed brake state and trigger alerts prior to landing, ensuring the crew's attention is drawn to the unarmed status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual alert is provided when speed brake is armed prior to landing, then pilot awareness is improved, but the alert may be overlooked in busy cockpit environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic or intermittent alert activation rather than continuous alerting. The processor monitors speed brake status and triggers alerts at specific intervals or under specific conditions, making the alert more noticeable without creating constant distraction in the cockpit environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary alert generation mechanism that translates the speed brake status into a noticeable alert signal. This intermediary layer ensures the information reaches the pilot in a form that cannot be easily overlooked, bridging the gap between system status and pilot awareness.
2Device complexity
If alert is provided late on touchdown, then the system is simple, but the alert occurs too late to prevent runway overrun
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of speed brake status before landing occurs. The processor continuously checks whether the speed brake is armed and prepares alert signals in advance, ensuring that when the alert is triggered, it occurs at the optimal moment to prevent runway overrun rather than too late at touchdown.
3Ease of manufacture
If passive visual alert is used, then the system is simple to implement, but the alert does not receive appropriate attention
Solution Approach 1:
The alert system uses periodic or conditional activation rather than passive continuous display. This makes the alert active and attention-grabbing while maintaining relatively simple system implementation through conditional logic in the processor.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method is provided for controlling the speed of an aircraft with a speed brake during landing. The system includes a speed brake control system and a speed brake controller coupled to the speed brake control system for arming the speed brake. An alert generator is coupled to the speed brake controller for generating an alert when the speed brake is not armed.