Synchronized Instrument Procedure Placekeeping System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft instrument procedure reviews are prone to miscommunication, placekeeping errors, human memory lapses, and task interruptions due to the manual comparison between flight management system data and published instrument procedure charts, especially in single-pilot environments.

Innovation Solution

A connected instrument procedure placekeeping system that includes a navigation database, flight deck display, and a hand-held personal electronic device, allowing simultaneous rendering and comparison of instrument procedure images and constraints on both the flight deck display and the electronic device, with user input highlighting and data synchronization to reduce errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual comparison between FMS data and published instrument procedure charts is used, then the pilot can review instrument procedures, but miscommunication, placekeeping errors, human memory lapses, and task interruptions occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of instrument procedure reviewVSAvoidmanual cross-check process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a digital copy of the published instrument procedure chart and displays it simultaneously with the FMS data on the flight deck. This digital replica allows for direct visual comparison without manual cross-checking, eliminating placekeeping errors and human memory lapses while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the display of FMS data and published chart data into a single integrated view on the flight deck display. By combining these previously separate review processes into one unified display, the system eliminates the need for manual back-and-forth cross-checking while improving review accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If verbal coordination between crewmembers is used to keep place and confirm constraints, then multi-pilot environments can conduct confirmation review, but miscommunication and human error increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfirmation review accuracyVSAvoidcommunication errors between crewmembers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides each crewmember with an identical digital copy of the instrument procedure data synchronized with the FMS, eliminating the need for verbal coordination to confirm constraints. Both crewmembers view the same data simultaneously, preventing miscommunication and information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time visual feedback by highlighting corresponding waypoints and constraints on both displays simultaneously. This synchronized feedback mechanism eliminates the need for verbal confirmation and prevents communication errors between crewmembers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the pilot looks down at published instrument procedure chart and manually searches for equivalent FMS data, then cross-check confirmation can be conducted, but task interruptions and time loss occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-check confirmation accuracyVSAvoidtime for manual cross-check process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the published chart data and FMS data into a single integrated display showing both simultaneously. This eliminates the need for the pilot to alternately look between separate documents, maintaining cross-check accuracy while dramatically reducing the time required for the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the published chart that is displayed alongside the FMS data in a synchronized manner. This allows the pilot to perform cross-check confirmation without physically moving between documents, reducing task interruptions and time loss while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3564926B1Connected instrument procedure placekeeping system
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3564926B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3564926B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3564926B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A connected instrument procedure placekeeping system includes a navigation database, a flight deck display, a flight deck processor, and an electronic device. The flight deck processor is in operable communication with the navigation database and the flight deck display and selectively retrieves flight plan data from the navigation database. The flight deck processor causes the flight deck display to render images of an instrument procedure. The electronic device is in operable communication with the flight deck processor and simultaneously renders an image of a published representation of the instrument procedure. One of either the flight deck processor or the electronic device is responsive to user input signals to highlight a waypoint and its associated constraint and the other of the electronic device or the flight deck processor simultaneously highlights the waypoint and its associated constraint for ease of comparison.