Avionics flight management recommender system

• US 9,542,851 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Kim, Geun Il, Pham, Tay, Rohr, Timothy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US14/930,711
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 703/2, 244/202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: 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: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0047 Navigation or guidance aids for a single aircraft details of equipment G08G5/0017
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00

Abstract

A flight management system is modified so that it can deal with an unpredicted current event happening to an airplane based on non-standard maneuvers that have been carried out previously by other airplanes in similar circumstances. This allows the flight management system to adaptively or dynamically respond to a variety of flight path changes rather than rely solely on a set of fixed responses to predictable events during a flight. Specifically, the flight management system is configured to provide procedural recommendations to a flight crew in real time based on collaboratively filtered historical data such that the flight crew can make smarter choices while operating airplanes.

Claims

1. A method for recommending pilot action onboard an airplane, comprising:

(a) collecting historical data representing pilot actions taken by a community of pilots and airplane characteristics during a multiplicity of flights;

(b) collaboratively filtering said historical data to derive relationship data representing a relationship between the pilot actions and airplane characteristics;

(c) piloting the airplane;

(d) collecting current data representing pilot actions onboard the airplane and characteristics of the airplane during step (c);

(e) determining that said current data falls into said relationship;

(f) generating a recommendation for pilot action by applying said relationship to said current data while the airplane is being piloted; and

(g) taking a pilot action onboard the airplane in accordance with said recommendation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said historical data comprises data representing actions and airplane characteristics recorded by the airplane during previous flights.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying said recommendation on a control display unit in a flight deck of the airplane.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(h) displaying a selectable recommendation indicator on a control display unit in a flight deck of the airplane;

(i) selecting the selectable recommendation indicator; and

(j) displaying said recommendation on the control display unit in response to step (i).

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said airplane characteristics comprise airplane gross weight and distance from destination.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed by an on-ground computer and steps (d) through (f) are performed by a computer onboard the airplane, further comprising uploading said relationship data from the on-ground computer to the onboard computer via a datalink.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein steps (b), (d), (e) and (f) are performed by a computer onboard the airplane.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said historical data comprises data representing actions and airplane characteristics recorded by a multiplicity of airplanes.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said recommendation comprises any one of the following:

a flaps extension profile;

a noise abatement departure procedure;

a reduction in thrust during takeoff;

auto brake and speed brake settings; and

a window for required time of arrival at different flap settings.

10. A method for recommending pilot action onboard an airplane, comprising:

(a) collecting historical data representing pilot actions and airplane characteristics during a multiplicity of flights;

(b) filtering said historical data to derive relationship data representing a relationship between the pilot actions and airplane characteristics;

(c) piloting the airplane;

(d) collecting current data representing pilot actions onboard the airplane and characteristics of the airplane during step (c);

(e) determining that said current data falls into said relationship;

(f) generating a recommendation for pilot action by applying said relationship to said current data while the airplane is being piloted; and

(g) taking a pilot action onboard the airplane in accordance with said recommendation,

wherein said historical data comprises data representing actions and airplane characteristics recorded by a multiplicity of airplanes.

11. A method for recommending pilot action onboard an airplane, comprising:

(a) collecting historical data representing pilot actions and airplane characteristics during a multiplicity of flights;

(b) filtering said historical data to derive relationship data representing a relationship between the pilot actions and airplane characteristics;

(c) piloting the airplane;

(d) collecting current data representing pilot actions onboard the airplane and characteristics of the airplane during step (c);

(e) determining that said current data falls into said relationship;

(f) generating a recommendation for pilot action by applying said relationship to said current data while the airplane is being piloted; and

(g) taking a pilot action onboard the airplane in accordance with said recommendation,

wherein said recommendation comprises any one of the following;

a flaps extension profile;

a noise abatement departure procedure;

a reduction in thrust during takeoff;

auto brake and speed brake settings; and

a window for required time of arrival at different flap settings.

12. A system for recommending pilot action onboard an airplane during a flight, comprising:

a control display unit onboard the airplane;

a plurality of sensors onboard the airplane, said sensors being configured to output current data representing pilot actions onboard the airplane and characteristics of the airplane; and

a computer system configured to perform the following operations;

(a) collecting historical data representing pilot actions taken by a community of pilots and airplane characteristics during a multiplicity of flights;

(b) collaboratively filtering said historical data to derive relationship data representing a relationship between the pilot actions and airplane characteristics;

(c) collecting said current data from said plurality of sensors during the flight;

(d) determining that said current data falls into said relationship;

(e) generating a recommendation for pilot action by applying said relationship to a portion of said current data while a pilot is flying the airplane; and

(f) causing said control display unit to display symbology representing said recommendation.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said recommendation comprises any one of the following:

a flaps extension profile;

a noise abatement departure procedure;

a reduction in thrust during takeoff;

auto brake and speed brake settings; and

a window for required time of arrival at different flap settings.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said historical data comprises data representing actions and airplane characteristics recorded by a multiplicity of airplanes.

15. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said airplane characteristics comprise airplane gross weight and distance from destination.

16. A system for recommending pilot action onboard an airplane during a flight, comprising:

a control display unit onboard the airplane;

a plurality of sensors onboard the airplane, said sensors being configured to output current data representing pilot actions onboard the airplane and environmental characteristics; and

a computer system configured to perform the following operations;

(a) collecting historical data representing pilot actions taken by a community of pilots and environmental characteristics during a multiplicity of flights;

(b) collaboratively filtering said historical data to derive relationship data representing a relationship between the pilot actions and environmental characteristics;

(c) collecting said current data from said plurality of sensors during the flight;

(d) determining that said current data falls into said relationship;

(e) generating a recommendation for pilot action by applying said relationship to a portion of said current data while a pilot is flying the airplane; and

(f) causing said control display unit to display symbology representing said recommendation.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said pilot action comprises extending flaps and said environmental characteristics comprise wind and temperature at the time the flaps are extended.

18. A method for recommending pilot action onboard an airplane, comprising:

(a) collecting historical data representing pilot actions taken by a community of pilots and environmental characteristics during a multiplicity of flights;

(b) collaboratively filtering said historical data to derive relationship data representing a relationship between the pilot actions and environmental characteristics;

(c) piloting the airplane;

(d) collecting current data representing pilot actions onboard the airplane and environmental characteristics during step (c);

(e) determining that said current data falls into said relationship;

(f) generating a recommendation for pilot action by applying said relationship to said current data while the airplane is being piloted; and

(g) taking a pilot action onboard the airplane in accordance with said recommendation.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein step (b) is performed by an on-ground computer and steps (d) through (f) are performed by a computer onboard the airplane, further comprising uploading said relationship data from the on-ground computer to the onboard computer via a datalink.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein steps (b), (d), (e) and (f) are performed by a computer onboard the airplane.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said pilot action comprises extending flaps and said environmental characteristics comprise wind and temperature at the time the flaps are extended.