Transparent Approach Curtain for Aircraft Landing Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight deck situational awareness systems are inadequate in helping pilots maintain or direct an aircraft along a desired final approach path, particularly in determining the aircraft's position relative to the vertical glide slope and intercepting the approach path during landing.
Innovation Solution
A flight deck situational awareness system that generates and displays a depiction of the approach path, including a vertical reference graphical indicator for the glide path, extended graphical indicators intercepting the terrain, and a horizontal reference graphical indicator forming an extension of the centerline, collectively forming a transparent approach curtain, to aid pilots in navigating the aircraft onto the desired final approach path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional flight deck situational awareness systems are used, then the system complexity is low, but the pilot's ability to determine aircraft position relative to the final approach path is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a curved approach curtain display that adds a vertical dimension to the traditional flat display. The approach curtain extends from the runway threshold upward, creating a three-dimensional visual representation that helps pilots perceive their position relative to the glide slope and final approach path more accurately.
Solution Approach 2:
The approach curtain creates a virtual copy of the terrain and approach path geometry, projecting it onto the display surface. This graphical copy includes the runway, glide slope, and approach path contours, allowing pilots to compare the virtual representation with their actual aircraft position for better situational awareness.
2Ease of operation
If no visual aids are provided, then the display is simple, but the pilot cannot easily determine aircraft position relative to the glide slope and centerline
Solution Approach 1:
The approach curtain uses color variations to convey different positional information. The curtain may use color gradients or distinct color zones to indicate whether the aircraft is above, below, or on the glide slope, and to show lateral position relative to the centerline, making position determination intuitive and immediate.
Solution Approach 2:
The approach curtain is segmented into multiple visual elements including the runway threshold, glide slope indicators, centerline extensions, and terrain contours. Each segment provides specific positional information, and together they form a comprehensive navigational aid that breaks down complex position determination into manageable visual cues.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a method for providing a depiction of an approach path to a landing area and of terrain proximal to the landing area via a flight deck situational awareness system of an aircraft. The method may include providing a vertical reference graphical indicator for indicating a glide path for the landing area. The method may further include providing a plurality of extended graphical indicators which extend from the vertical reference graphical indicator and intercept the depicted terrain. The method may further include connecting the plurality of extended graphical indicators via a horizontal reference graphical indicator which forms an extension of a centerline of the landing area onto the depicted terrain. The vertical reference graphical indicator, the extended graphical indicators, and the horizontal reference graphical indicator may form boundaries of a plurality of transparent panes, which collectively form a transparent approach curtain.