Avionics Terrain Database Adaptive Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Avionics databases face challenges in achieving high resolution and accuracy, particularly near runway approaches and areas with high terrain variability, due to insufficient resolution and data sensor issues, leading to inaccurate altitudes and excessive guard bands.
Innovation Solution
A system that identifies tiles including runway approaches and high terrain variability, incorporates higher resolution tiles in these regions, consolidates tiles with similar elevations or terrain variability into lower resolution tiles, and uses onboard sensor data to constrain database accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If higher resolution terrain databases are used, then database accuracy is improved, but storage space requirements increase and processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The terrain database is divided into multiple resolution levels (e.g., 1 arc-second, 0.5 arc-second, 0.25 arc-second tiles). The system segments the database into coarser and finer resolution layers, allowing selective loading and processing of only the necessary detail levels based on operational requirements, thereby maintaining accuracy where needed while improving overall processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the terrain database are assigned different resolution qualities based on local requirements. High-resolution tiles are applied specifically to areas requiring enhanced accuracy (such as approach paths and high terrain variability regions), while lower-resolution tiles are used in areas where maximum detail is not required, optimizing the balance between accuracy and processing performance.
2Measurement precision
If higher resolution terrain databases are used, then database accuracy is improved, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The database is segmented into multiple resolution tiers, allowing the system to store and manage terrain data at different levels of detail. This segmentation enables selective storage of high-resolution data only where necessary, reducing overall storage requirements compared to a single high-resolution database while maintaining accuracy in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
High-resolution terrain data is stored locally only in regions requiring enhanced accuracy (such as approach paths and high terrain variability regions), while lower-resolution data is used in areas where maximum detail is not required. This localized application of high quality data significantly reduces storage space requirements while maintaining database accuracy where needed.
3Device complexity
If uniform resolution tiles are used throughout the database, then database simplicity is maintained, but accuracy in high terrain variability regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different resolution qualities to different regions of the terrain database. High-resolution tiles are specifically applied to areas with high terrain variability or near approach paths where accuracy is critical, while lower-resolution tiles are used in areas where maximum detail is not required. This localized differentiation maintains database manageability while significantly improving accuracy in high terrain variability regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The database resolution is made dynamic rather than static. The system can adaptively select and load appropriate resolution levels based on the operational context and terrain characteristics, allowing the database to transition between different resolution states as needed to balance simplicity and accuracy.
4Reliability
If guard bands are added to compensate for low data accuracy, then reliability is improved, but database size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the resolution parameter dynamically based on data accuracy characteristics. In regions with known low accuracy (such as near approach paths or areas with reflective surfaces), the system automatically applies higher resolution tiles and adjusts guard band calculations, thereby improving reliability without requiring excessive uniform expansion of the database throughout all areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for improving the resolution and accuracy of avionics databases with limited impact on the size of the database includes identifying tiles including runway approaches and incorporates higher resolution tiles for those regions. The system may also identify tiles including high terrain variability. Those regions may also include higher resolution tiles. The system may identify multiple tiles that each define the same elevation and / or terrain variability. Those tiles may be consolidated into a single lower resolution tile. Aircraft may record elevations via onboard sensors. Multiple sensor samples may be combined and applied to an existing database to constrain the database accuracy.