Abstract:
A system and methods of displaying airport field features on a flight deck display element of an aircraft are provided. The flight deck display system obtains geographic position data and heading data for the aircraft, accesses airport feature data associated with synthetic graphical representations of an airport field, and renders a dynamic synthetic display of the airport field on the flight deck display element. The dynamic synthetic display is rendered in accordance with the geographic position data, the heading data, and the airport feature data. In certain embodiments the synthetic display includes graphical representations of taxiways/runways, along with signage that is conformally rendered on the exposed taxiway surfaces. Display characteristics of the signage may be influenced by the actual physical and/or temporal proximity of the aircraft relative to reference locations on the airport field. In some embodiments, the taxiway/runway signage includes dynamic directional indicators corresponding to the intended directions of travel on the taxiways/runways. Moreover, the taxiway/runway signage can be dynamically rendered in a forward-facing manner at all times on the flight deck display element.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of a vehicle such as an aircraft using a virtual cursor. One method involves identifying a displayed location of an active cursor overlying a first navigational map graphical user interface (GUI) display, determining a geographic reference point on the first navigational map GUI corresponding to the displayed location of the active cursor, determining a location for a virtual cursor to be displayed on a second navigational map GUI display corresponding to the geographic reference point on the first navigational map GUI display and concurrently displaying the virtual cursor at the determined location overlying the second navigational map.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of a vehicle such as an aircraft using a virtual cursor. One method involves identifying a displayed location of an active cursor overlying a first navigational map graphical user interface (GUI) display, determining a geographic reference point on the first navigational map GUI corresponding to the displayed location of the active cursor, determining a location for a virtual cursor to be displayed on a second navigational map GUI display corresponding to the geographic reference point on the first navigational map GUI display and concurrently displaying the virtual cursor at the determined location overlying the second navigational map.
Abstract:
A switching system comprises a three-way radio switch for an onboard radio system. The radio switch includes a manual standby frequency switch that receives and displays a standby frequency input by a user; an automated standby frequency switch that receives and displays a standby frequency automatically input by the system; and an active frequency switch that shows a currently selected frequency. The active frequency switch receives and displays the frequency from the manual standby frequency switch, or receives and displays the frequency from the automated standby frequency switch. A processor is operative to monitor frequencies of the radio system in real-time; compare the frequencies of the radio system with frequencies from a database containing regional radio frequencies; trigger an alert when the frequencies of the radio system do not match the frequencies from the database; and send an updated standby radio frequency to the automated standby frequency switch.
Abstract:
A system for ordering flight crew tasks during flight of an airborne vehicle is provided. The system includes one or more processors configured by programming instructions encoded on non-transient computer readable media. The system is configured to: retrieve a current ordering of a plurality of flight crew tasks across a flight profile and task context data; retrieve current flight data including: targets and constraints, progress and state of each required checklist, airspace dynamics information, environmental conditions, the time of day and year, and aircraft state information which includes the current automation and configuration state; retrieve airborne vehicle operator preferences; analyze the retrieved current ordering of flight crew tasks and task context data, current flight data, and operator preferences to predict a flight crew task saturation period; and re-order the current ordering of the plurality of flight crew tasks to reduce the occurrence of task saturation periods.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for presenting a waypoint list graphical user interface display on a display device associated with a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The waypoint list graphical user interface display comprises a waypoint list region including a plurality of waypoints, wherein an entry for a currently selected waypoint maintains a fixed position on the waypoint list graphical user interface display while the waypoints scroll with respect to the entry to adjust the currently selected waypoint within a flight plan for an aircraft.
Abstract:
A connected instrument procedure placekeeping system includes a navigation database, a flight deck display, a flight deck processor, and an electronic device. The flight deck processor is in operable communication with the navigation database and the flight deck display and selectively retrieves flight plan data from the navigation database. The flight deck processor causes the flight deck display to render images of an instrument procedure. The electronic device is in operable communication with the flight deck processor and simultaneously renders an image of a published representation of the instrument procedure. One of either the flight deck processor or the electronic device is responsive to user input signals to highlight a waypoint and its associated constraint and the other of the electronic device or the flight deck processor simultaneously highlights the waypoint and its associated constraint for ease of comparison.
Abstract:
Cockpit display systems and methods are provided for generating cockpit displays including symbology useful in assessing whether enhanced flight visibility requirements are satisfied during approach and landing. In one embodiment, the cockpit display system includes an Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) sensor configured to monitor a region forward of the aircraft for runway reference features, a cockpit display device on which an EFVS image is generated utilizing EFVS sensor data, and a controller coupled to the EFVS sensor and to the display device. The controller determines an enhanced flight visibility requirement for a runway approached by the aircraft, and then visually indicates on the EFVS image whether the enhanced flight visibility requirement is currently satisfied by, for example. generating an enhanced flight visibility indicator (EFVI) graphic on the EFVS image visually identifying a ground location beyond which the appearance of a runway reference feature satisfies the enhanced flight visibility requirement.
Abstract:
A system method for providing aircraft lateral navigation system capability feedback to a pilot includes determining, in a processor, when a flight plan has been received that includes a flight leg that needs to be captured by the aircraft. A determination is made, in the processor, when an armed signal has been received, where the armed signal indicating that an aircraft autopilot navigation mode (NAV) has been armed. The processor is used to command a display device to render the flight leg using a first display paradigm when the armed signal has not been received, and to render the flight leg using a second display paradigm when the armed signal has been received.
Abstract:
A system and method provides aircraft autoflight capability feedback to aircraft pilots to thereby prevent, or at least inhibit, latent errors of omission that may result in operational errors. The system and method uses graphics that communicate subtly and in the background, in a manner that naturally fits with how the visual cortex processes graphical information and how the mind makes quick, and subconscious judgments about information. The system may also use auditory and tactile feedback.