SVS Display Mode Switching for Aircraft Taxi Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional synthetic vision systems (SVS) provide a narrow egocentric view suitable for take-off, flight, and landing operations but are not ideal for taxiing operations, as they do not offer a sufficient field of view for navigating to a take-off point on a runway.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that switch between an SVS taxi mode exocentric view and an SVS flight mode egocentric view based on triggers, such as aircraft operations or checklist completions, to provide a wider field of view during taxiing and a narrower view during flight, using a processor and display to manage the transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional SVS provides a narrow egocentric view, then the system complexity is reduced and energy consumption is lowered, but the field of view is insufficient for taxiing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between two SVS display modes (exocentric and egocentric views) based on the aircraft's operational phase. During taxiing operations, the system automatically displays the exocentric view providing a wider field of view, while during takeoff and landing operations, it switches to the egocentric view. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing the needed wide field of view only when required for taxiing, rather than maintaining it continuously, thus avoiding unnecessary system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If SVS displays a wide exocentric view during taxi operations, then the field of view is improved for navigating to takeoff point, but the view is not ideal for take-off, flight, and landing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the SVS display mode based on the aircraft's operational phase by detecting triggers such as gear position, flap position, and thrust settings. When the aircraft is in taxi mode, the exocentric view is displayed to assist with navigation. When takeoff or landing operations are detected, the system automatically switches to the egocentric view, ensuring the display is always adapted to the current operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the display parameters of the SVS system based on operational conditions. Specifically, it alters the field of view angle, camera position, and display orientation parameters between exocentric and egocentric modes. This parameter switching allows the system to provide the optimal view for each operational phase, improving ease of operation during taxiing while maintaining adaptability for all flight operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual switching between SVS modes is implemented, then the adaptability to different operations is improved, but the crew workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting the aircraft's operational phase through sensors and autonomously switching between exocentric and egocentric SVS display modes. The system monitors parameters such as gear position, flap angle, and thrust settings to determine whether the aircraft is in taxi, takeoff, flight, or landing phase, and automatically configures the appropriate view without requiring crew intervention. This eliminates the need for manual switching while maintaining full adaptability to different flight operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring aircraft operational parameters (gear position, flap position, thrust settings) and using this feedback to automatically adjust the SVS display mode. The feedback loop ensures the system responds appropriately to changes in flight phase, automatically switching between display modes to maintain optimal situational awareness for the current operation while reducing crew workload.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system may include a display (402) and a processor (404) communicatively coupled to the display. The processor may be configured to: output, to the display, a synthetic vision system (SVS) taxi mode exocentric view of an aircraft when the aircraft is performing taxi operations and when the aircraft is on ground; receive a trigger to switch the output of the SVS taxi mode exocentric view to an SVS flight mode egocentric view from the aircraft; and switch the output of the SVS taxi mode exocentric view to output, to the display, the SVS flight mode egocentric view when the aircraft is performing taxi operations and when the aircraft is on ground based at least on the trigger to switch from the SVS taxi mode exocentric view to the SVS flight mode egocentric view.