System and method for optimization of aircraft fuel economy in real-time

• US 10,325,504 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Meier, Oliver C., Eggink, Roy A., Jonson, Kristoffer R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US15/463,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20180268722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/02 for indicating aircraft speed or stalling conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0005 Devices specially adapted to indicate the position of a movable element of the aircraft, e.g. landing gear
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0005 with arrangements to save energy
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0047 Navigation or guidance aids for a single aircraft details of equipment G08G5/0017

Abstract

A system and method for the real-time optimization of aircraft fuel economy includes sensors to monitor in-flight performance characteristics, to monitor the status of aircraft control elements during flight, to monitor fuel consumption, and to identify aircraft position information during flight. A processor is coupled to receive information from the sensors. During flight, the processor calculates a current performance level by entering the received information into a predetermined flight model. The processor then determines, based on a comparison of the calculated current performance level with a predetermined expected performance level, a current level of fuel efficiency. Next, the processor determines any parameter changes for improving fuel efficiency. Finally, the processor causes the determined parameter changes to be displayed on a flight deck display. The flight crew may then selectively implement one or more of the determined parameter changes via the flight deck display.

Claims

1. A system for the real-time optimization of aircraft fuel economy, comprising:

one or more first sensors configured to generate first sensor data indicative of in-flight performance parameters; and

a processor configured to receive the first sensor data from the one or more first sensors, the processor configured to;

determine a current level of fuel efficiency for a flight segment of a flight path based on the first sensor data,

determine a target level of fuel efficiency for the flight segment based on the first sensor data and an aircraft performance flight model, wherein the aircraft performance flight model is representative of fuel efficiency of the aircraft based on flight parameters of at least one prior flight,

in response to determining that a difference between the current level of fuel efficiency and the target level of fuel efficiency satisfies a threshold, identifying at least one flight control parameter to be changed to increase fuel efficiency, and

send a signal indicative of the at least one flight control parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more second sensors configured to generate second sensor data indicative of flight control parameters, wherein the processor is configured to receive the second sensor data from the one or more second sensors, wherein the target level of fuel efficiency for the flight segment is further determined based on the second sensor data from the one or more second sensors, and wherein the flight control parameters comprise at least one of air-speed, an altitude, a cost index, an angle of attack, a heading, a flight path, a flight profile, a surface configuration of the aircraft, engine bleed, power extraction, or air supply.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third sensor configured to generate third sensor data indicative of fuel consumption, wherein the processor is configured to receive the third sensor data from the third sensor and wherein the current level or the target level of fuel efficiency, or both, is further determined based on the third sensor data from the third sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth sensor configured to generate fourth sensor data indicative of aircraft position information during flight, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the fourth sensor data from the fourth sensor, and wherein the current level or the target level of fuel efficiency, or both, is further determined based on the fourth sensor data from the fourth sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more flight deck displays, wherein the one or more flight deck displays are configured to receive the signal from the processor and to display a notification indicating the at least one flight control parameter to be changed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is configured to cause the at least one flight control parameter to be changed, and wherein the at least one flight control parameter comprises at least one of air-speed, an altitude, a cost index, an angle of attack, a heading, a flight path, a flight profile, a surface configuration of the aircraft, engine bleed, power extraction, or air supply.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more first sensors comprise at least one of a pitot sensor, a static pressure sensor, an accelerometer, or an air temperature sensor, wherein the in-flight performance parameters comprise at least one of nautical air miles, fuel flow, drag, weight, center of gravity, air speed, cost index, flight time, air frame, or engine status.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more second sensors comprise at least one of a spoiler position sensor, a flap position sensor, a gear position sensor, a flaperon position sensor, a rudder position sensor, an aileron position sensor, or an engine sensor.

9. A system for the real-time optimization of aircraft fuel economy, comprising:

one or more first sensors configured to generate first sensor data indicative of flight control parameters; and

a processor configured to receive the first sensor data from the one or more first sensors, the processor configured to;

determine a current level of fuel efficiency for a flight segment of a flight path based on the first sensor data,

determine a target level of fuel efficiency for the flight segment based on the first sensor data and an aircraft performance flight model, wherein the aircraft performance flight model is representative of fuel efficiency of the aircraft based on flight parameters of at least one prior flight,

in response to determining that a difference between the current level of fuel efficiency and the target level of fuel efficiency satisfies a threshold, identifying at least one flight control parameter to change to increase fuel efficiency, and

send a signal indicative of the at least one flight control parameter.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising one or more second sensors configured to generate second sensor data indicative of in-flight performance parameters, wherein the processor is configured to receive the second sensor data from the one or more second sensors, wherein the in-flight performance parameters comprise at least one of nautical air miles, fuel flow, drag, weight, center of gravity, air speed, cost index, flight time, air frame, or engine status, and wherein the target level of fuel efficiency is further determined based on the second sensor data from the one or more second sensors.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a third sensor configured to generate third sensor data indicative of fuel consumption, wherein the processor is coupled to receive the third sensor data information from the third sensor, and wherein the current level or the target level of fuel efficiency, or both, is further determined based on the third sensor data from the third sensor.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a fourth sensor configured to generate fourth sensor data indicative of aircraft position information during flight, wherein the processor is coupled to receive the fourth sensor data from the fourth sensor, and wherein the current level or target level of fuel efficiency, or both, is further determined based on the fourth sensor data from the fourth sensor.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising one or more flight deck displays, wherein the one or more flight deck displays are configured to receive the signal from the processor and to display a notification indicating the at least one flight control parameter to be changed.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal is configured to cause the at least one flight control parameter to be changed, and wherein the at least one flight control parameter comprises at least one of air-speed, an altitude, a cost index, an angle of attack, a heading, a flight path, a flight profile, a surface configuration of the aircraft, engine bleed, power extraction, or air supply.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more first sensors comprise at least one of a spoiler position sensor, a flap position sensor, a gear position sensor, a flaperon position sensor, a rudder position sensor, an aileron position sensor, or an engine sensor.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more second sensors comprise at least one of a pitot sensor, a static pressure sensor, an accelerometer, or an air temperature sensor.

17. A method for real-time optimization of aircraft fuel economy, comprising:

receiving first sensor data indicating in-flight performance parameter from one or more first sensors;

determining a current level of fuel efficiency for a flight segment of a flight path based on the first sensor data;

determining a target level of fuel efficiency for the flight segment based on the first sensor data and an aircraft performance flight model, wherein the aircraft performance flight model is representative of fuel efficiency of the aircraft based on flight parameters of at least one prior flight;

identifying at least one flight control parameter to be changed based on a comparison of the a current level of fuel efficiency and the target level of fuel efficiency; and

sending a signal indicative of the at least one flight control parameter.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving second sensor data indicative of flight control parameters from one or more second sensors, and wherein current level of fuel efficient is further determined based on the second sensor data.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving third sensor data indicating fuel consumption from a third sensor, and wherein the current level or target level of fuel consumption, or both, is further determined based on the third sensor data.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal is configured to cause the at least one flight control parameter to be changed, and wherein the at least one flight control parameter comprises at least one of air-speed, an altitude, a cost index, an angle of attack, a heading, a flight path, a flight profile, a surface configuration of the aircraft, engine bleed, power extraction, or air supply.