Turbulence Avoidance Trajectory Generation via Convex Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Doppler lidar systems have limited effective range and high probability of human error in turbulence avoidance due to short detection distance and limited time for pilots to make optimal maneuvers, increasing the risk of turbulence-induced accidents.
Innovation Solution
A turbulence avoidance operation assist device that uses Doppler lidar to detect danger regions and generates optimal avoidance trajectories through convex quadratic programming and semidefinite programming methods, reducing pilot workload and minimizing human error by providing automatic trajectory guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Doppler lidar is used to detect turbulence, then turbulence detection capability is improved, but the effective detection range is limited to about 10-20 km
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of turbulence using Doppler lidar at the maximum effective range (10-20 km), then pre-calculates multiple avoidance trajectories in advance. This allows the pilot to receive trajectory suggestions before reaching the detected turbulence region, compensating for the limited detection range by providing advance warning and prepared guidance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pilot manually determines avoidance maneuver, then flexibility in decision-making is improved, but the time for decision-making is short and human error probability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates multiple avoidance trajectories and presents them to the pilot, allowing the pilot to select the most appropriate option without performing complex calculations. This self-service approach reduces the pilot's cognitive load and decision-making time while maintaining flexibility through pilot selection among pre-calculated options.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to the pilot by displaying multiple calculated avoidance trajectories with their respective characteristics. This feedback mechanism allows the pilot to make informed decisions based on presented options, reducing decision-making time while preserving adaptability through pilot choice.
3Reliability
If abrupt operation is performed for emergency avoidance, then avoidance effectiveness is improved, but fuselage shaking increases beyond turbulence-induced shaking
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates multiple avoidance trajectories with different bank angles and maneuver intensities, allowing dynamic selection based on turbulence severity and aircraft state. This dynamic approach enables smooth avoidance maneuvers that are effective yet minimize unnecessary fuselage shaking, avoiding the need for abrupt operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates gentle avoidance trajectories that gradually steer the aircraft away from detected turbulence regions. By providing these cushioning maneuvers in advance, the system achieves effective avoidance while minimizing fuselage shaking, preventing the need for abrupt corrective operations.
4Reliability
If multiple avoidance conditions are considered, then avoidance optimality is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the avoidance trajectory calculation into multiple discrete options with different characteristics (e.g., different bank angles, turn rates). By dividing the complex optimization problem into segmented, pre-calculated trajectories, the system maintains computational feasibility while providing comprehensive avoidance options that ensure optimality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies key parameters such as bank angle and turn rate to generate multiple avoidance trajectories. By systematically changing these parameters within defined ranges, the system explores multiple avoidance conditions and selects the optimal trajectory, balancing avoidance effectiveness with computational efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device significantly reduces human error and contributes to increased safety by automatically generating and reporting optimal avoidance trajectories, even in situations where turbulence detection is beyond the conventional Doppler lidar range, thereby minimizing the risk of turbulence-induced accidents.
Implementation Method 1
the frequency variation amount (wavelength variation amount) according to the Doppler effect is measured, whereby the wind velocity is measured
Implementation Method 2
an irradiated light beam is scattered by fine aerosol floating in the atmosphere, the scattered beam is received
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a turbulence avoidance operation assist device that automatically generates an optimal trajectory of emergency avoidance and reports this trajectory to a pilot when distant turbulence is detected during an aircraft flight. The turbulence avoidance operation assist device in accordance with the present invention includes: means for detecting the presence of a danger region such as a turbulence region ahead of aircraft in a flight direction; means for representing the danger region as an assembly of rectangular solids when the detection means recognizes the danger region, and generating a flight trajectory by a local optimum solution of an avoidance trajectory using a convex quadratic programming method in which deviation from a reference trajectory is the smallest on the basis of an initial estimation solution obtained by a semidefinite programming method; and means for reporting the flight trajectory to a pilot.