Vehicle Decision Support System for Flight Constraint Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face high cognitive workload due to the complexity of managing operational constraints during flight operations, as they must recall and associate numerous parametric constraints with aircraft subsystems at appropriate times, leading to potential untimely recalls and reduced anticipation time, which can result in unexpected aircraft performance and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle decision support system that processes travel plans, vehicle data, and environmental data using stored rule sets to predict constraint violations and generate timely guidance reports, reducing pilot workload by providing strategic and tactical recommendations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pilots manually recall and associate parametric constraints with aircraft subsystems, then operational flexibility is maintained, but cognitive workload increases and timeliness of constraint incorporation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically processing operational constraints, flight plans, and environmental data without requiring pilot intervention. The processor autonomously determines constraint violations, generates guidance reports, and provides recommendations, freeing pilots from manual constraint management while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cognitive process of manual constraint recall and association with an automated electronic system. The processor substitutes human cognitive functions by electronically processing constraint data, comparing it against flight plans and environmental conditions, and generating guidance reports automatically
2Reliability
If the number of operational constraints increases to govern operational efficiency and safety, then safety and operational efficiency improve, but system complexity and cognitive workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex constraint management task into distinct processing components: receiving operational constraints, receiving flight plans, processing environmental data, determining constraint violations, and generating guidance reports. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple constraints systematically without overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary between the complex constraint system and the pilot. It receives multiple operational constraints, processes them against flight plans and environmental data, and translates the complex analysis into simplified guidance reports and recommendations, reducing the perceived complexity for the operator
3Loss of information
If pilots are briefed on operational constraints prior to flight, then operational constraints are documented, but timeliness of constraint incorporation during flight decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically processing operational constraints and flight plans before flight execution. The processor determines potential constraint violations in advance and generates guidance reports proactively, ensuring constraint information is ready when needed without requiring pilot recall during critical flight phases
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring flight progress against operational constraints in real-time. The processor receives updated flight data and environmental conditions, re-evaluates constraint compliance, and generates updated guidance reports as needed, ensuring timely information incorporation throughout the flight operation
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle decision support system and method capable of processing operational constraints, a flight plan, and appropriate environmental data to generate timely and readily comprehensible guidance are provided.