Turn Guidance Display for Aircraft Spacing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air traffic control systems rely heavily on human intervention to manage spacing between aircraft, which can lead to inefficiencies and inconsistencies in maintaining desired spacings, especially when aircraft deviate from planned routes.
Innovation Solution
A turn guidance display system that provides operators with graphical indicators to control aircraft movement by displaying planned routes, turn paths, and position indicators, allowing for autonomous adjustment to achieve and maintain desired spacings between aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air traffic controllers manually instruct flight crews to change speed, heading, and altitude to manage aircraft spacing, then spacing control is achieved, but system complexity and dependence on human intervention increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables aircraft to automatically manage their own spacing by computing turn paths and providing guidance to the flight crew, eliminating the need for continuous air traffic controller intervention. The aircraft self-monitors its position relative to the planned route and autonomously executes spacing adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors aircraft position, compares it to the planned route and desired spacing parameters, and provides real-time feedback through turn path guidance. This closed-loop feedback mechanism automatically adjusts spacing without requiring manual controller input for each adjustment.
2Productivity
If flight crews depend on air traffic controller instructions to maintain spacing, then spacing management is centralized, but operational efficiency and responsiveness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes turn paths and spacing adjustment instructions before they are needed, based on the aircraft's current position, velocity, and desired spacing parameters. This allows the flight crew to immediately execute pre-planned spacing adjustments without waiting for controller instructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The aircraft system autonomously computes and executes spacing adjustments without requiring time-consuming communication cycles with air traffic controllers, significantly reducing the time lag between spacing requirements and actual adjustments.
3Ease of operation
If a turn path is displayed separately from the planned route, then turn guidance is provided, but display complexity and operator confusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The turn path indicator is superimposed on the same display as the planned route indicator, merging multiple pieces of information into a single integrated visual presentation. This allows the flight crew to see both the original planned route and the modified turn path simultaneously without switching between multiple displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The turn path indicator is displayed with distinct visual characteristics (such as different color or line style) only in the specific regions where turns are required, while the rest of the planned route maintains its original indication style. This localized differentiation provides clear turn guidance without overwhelming the entire display with complex information.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus of controlling movement of an aircraft. A turn path off of a planned route for an aircraft comprising a turn to direct the aircraft to an intercept point on the planned route is determined. A planned route indicator depicting the planned route, a turn path indicator depicting the turn path, and an aircraft position indicator indicating a position of the aircraft are displayed to an operator of the aircraft at the same time on a turn guidance display. Deviation limit indicators for the planned route, the turn path, or both, may be displayed on the turn guidance display. Indicator characteristics of the deviation limit indicators may be changed in response to aircraft deviations from the planned route or the turn path by more than the deviation limits. The turn guidance display is used to control the movement of the aircraft to follow the turn path.