Geopositioned Synthetic Vision Display with Angular Error Uncertainty Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern synthetic vision systems in aircraft suffer from positioning inaccuracies, which significantly impact the precision of three-dimensional landscape representations, especially near the vehicle, leading to imprecise navigation elements due to the dependence on GPS and inertial systems' precision.
Innovation Solution
A method that adjusts the representation mode of cartographic data based on angular error, using a standard mode for reliable information within a tolerance threshold and an uncertainty representation mode for points outside this threshold, with distinct visual cues such as color, transparency, and blurring to differentiate between accurate and uncertain data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a three-dimensional synthetic view of the terrain is generated using GPS and inertial navigation data, then the crew receives a realistic view of the external environment including navigation elements, but positioning inaccuracies cause distortion of the image relative to reality, especially for elements close to the aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different representation qualities to different spatial regions: elements within the tolerance circle are displayed with standard precision, while elements outside the circle are displayed with degraded quality (blurred, semi-transparent, or hidden). This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining visual realism where positioning accuracy is sufficient while acknowledging uncertainty where it is insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color and transparency changes to indicate uncertainty levels. Elements outside the tolerance circle are displayed with reduced opacity or different coloration to signal their uncertain position. This visual encoding allows the system to maintain a complete three-dimensional view while clearly communicating which elements are reliable and which are not.
2Loss of information
If all map elements are displayed in standard representation mode, then the display is complete and visually appealing, but unreliable information may mislead the crew about actual positions of navigation elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display into two distinct zones: a reliable zone (within tolerance circle) and an unreliable zone (outside tolerance circle). Each zone receives appropriate treatment - complete standard representation for reliable elements and degraded or hidden representation for unreliable elements. This segmentation maintains information completeness for reliable data while protecting against misinformation from unreliable data.
Solution Approach 2:
The tolerance circle acts as an intermediary threshold that mediates between complete information display and reliable information display. Elements are evaluated against this threshold, and their representation is adjusted accordingly. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to transition smoothly between displaying all information and displaying only reliable information.
3Measurement precision
If the angular error threshold is set low to ensure high precision, then only very reliable information is displayed, but many potentially useful navigation elements are hidden or degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic threshold mechanism where the angular error tolerance can be adjusted based on operational context, phase of flight, and mission requirements. This allows the system to adapt between conservative (low threshold) and liberal (high threshold) display modes, optimizing the balance between precision and information completeness for different situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the angular error parameter dynamically to control the boundary between reliable and unreliable information display. By adjusting this parameter, the system can expand or contract the reliable information zone, thereby controlling how much information is displayed with full confidence versus degraded representation. This parameter control allows flexible optimization of the precision-information trade-off.
Data Source
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AI summary
The general field of the invention is that of methods for representing a cartographic image in a geolocated synthetic visualization system for vehicles, said system comprising a cartographic database, geolocation means, graphic generation means enabling the generation of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional synthetic view of said terrain and a visualization device.In the method according to the invention, the angular position of each point in the synthetic view is known with an angular error (α) depending on the distance (D) to the vehicle and the geolocation accuracy (e) of said vehicle. When said angular error is less than or equal to a predetermined angular tolerance, the point is represented in a standard representation mode, and when said angular error is greater than a predetermined angular tolerance, the point is represented in an uncertainty representation mode different from the standard representation mode. Applications are preferably in aeronautics.