Turbulence Icon Differentiation for Flight Path Relevance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current turbulence detection systems in aircraft struggle to effectively convey altitude information of storm cells and turbulence regions, making it difficult for crew members to quickly understand the relevance and significance of this information, which can divert their attention and delay decision-making.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses different icon formats on a display to indicate the location of weather phenomena relative to a planned flight path, with icons formatted differently based on whether they are within or outside the defined region of space, allowing for quicker assessment of turbulence regions' impact on the flight path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If alpha numeric text is used to present altitude information, then complete information is provided, but it is difficult and time consuming for the crew to discern and understand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color coding to turbulence region icons to indicate altitude information. Different colors represent different altitude ranges, allowing the crew to quickly comprehend vertical position without reading numeric values. This visual encoding maintains complete information while dramatically reducing the time required to discern and understand altitude data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms one-dimensional numeric altitude data into two-dimensional visual representations through colored icons positioned on a map display. By adding the color dimension to represent altitude, the system enables rapid visual comprehension of vertical information that would otherwise require time-consuming numeric interpretation.
2Reliability
If detailed altitude information is presented, then crew can make informed decisions, but their attention is diverted from other matters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments turbulence information into visually distinct icons with color-coded altitude indicators that can be rapidly scanned. This segmentation allows the crew to grasp essential altitude data at a glance without needing to process detailed numeric information, maintaining decision quality while reducing cognitive load and attention demands.
Solution Approach 2:
By encoding altitude information in colors rather than text, the patent creates an intuitive visual language that reduces the mental effort required to interpret data. The crew can quickly assess whether turbulence regions are at relevant altitudes without diverting significant attention from flight operations.
3Illumination intensity
If icons display arbitrary shapes with patterns and colors, then visual information is enhanced, but vertical information (altitude) is not graphically displayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directly addresses this limitation by using color variations in the icons to represent different altitude ranges. Each turbulence region icon maintains its shape and pattern to indicate horizontal extent, while color encoding adds the vertical altitude dimension, providing complete spatial information in a visually enhanced format.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods differentiate weather, such as storm cells and/or turbulence regions, based on location relative to a planned flight path of an aircraft. An exemplary embodiment compares a location of the weather with a location of a region of space corresponding to the planned flight path of the aircraft. In response to the location of the weather region being outside of the region of space, an icon is presented on a display corresponding to the weather using a first icon format. In response to location of the weather being within the region of space, the icon corresponding to the weather is presented on the display using a second icon format, the second icon format different from the first icon format.