Flight deck control cueing

• US 9,569,323 B1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gershzohn, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tank, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/612,853
• Time in Patent Office: 2,658 Days
• Field of Search: 716/709, 716/771, 716/812, 716/817, 716/822, 716/829, 716/855, 716/970, 715/709, 715/771, 715/812, 715/817, 715/822, 715/829, 715/855, 715/970, 715/243, 715/710
• 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: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2257 using expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/32 with visual or acoustical indication of the functioning of the machine

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for cueing a pilot to flight deck controls based on steps in an electronic checklist (ECL). In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for cueing flight deck controls based on steps in an ECL includes displaying the ECL on an aircraft display that includes one or more steps involving controls on the flight deck. A step from the ECL is highlighted on the aircraft display and an indication indicating that the step has been completed is received. Upon receiving the indication, a next step in the ECL is highlighted. In various embodiments, flight deck visual indicators associated with the controls may be activated corresponding to steps in the ECL.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for cueing a pilot to controls on a flight deck control panel based on steps in an electronic checklist (ECL), comprising:

displaying the ECL on an aircraft display, the ECL comprising one or more steps involving the controls on the flight deck control panel;

highlighting a current step of the one or more steps in the ECL on the aircraft display by surrounding text of the current step by a dotted line;

receiving an indication corresponding to the current step indicating that the current step has been completed;

upon receiving the indication that the current step has been completed, issuing a verbal warning announcement if the current step was completed incorrectly; and

highlighting a next step of the one or more steps in the ECL by surrounding text of the next step by a dotted line.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication corresponding to the current step indicating that the current step has been completed comprises receiving an indication from a physical actuator associated with the control that an action has been completed.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, concurrently with displaying the one or more steps of the ECL, also displaying a checklist override button.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a current checklist indicator which provides a textual description of the condition relating to the checklist.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication corresponding to the current step indicating that the current step has been completed comprises receiving an indication from an aircraft system controlled by a control that an action has been completed.

6. A system for cueing a pilot to controls based on steps in an electronic checklist (ECL), comprising:

a flight deck control panel comprising one or more controls, each of the one or more controls having a visual indicator associated with the control, the ECL comprising one or more steps involving the controls;

a memory for storing a program containing computer-executable instructions for cueing the pilot to the one or more controls based on the steps in the ECL; and

a processor functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to the computer-executable instructions contained in the program and configured to;

display the ECL on an aircraft display and highlight a current step in the ECL by surrounding text of the step by a dotted line,

activate the visual indicator associated with the control corresponding to the current step in the ECL,

receive an indication corresponding to the current step indicating that the current step has been completed, and

upon receiving the indication indicating that the current step has been completed, issue a verbal warning announcement if the current step was completed incorrectly.

7. The system of claim 6, and further comprising a physical actuator associated with and responsive to a control of the flight deck control panel, the physical actuator providing to the processor an indication that an action has been completed.

8. The system of claim 6, and further comprising an aircraft system controlled by a control of the flight deck control panel, the aircraft system providing to the processor an indication that an action has been completed.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor is further responsive to the computer-executable instructions contained in the program to, concurrently with displaying the one or more steps of the ECL, also display a checklist override button.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor is further responsive to the computer-executable instructions contained in the program to provide a current checklist indicator which provides a textual description of the condition relating to the checklist.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a computer, causes the computer to:

display an electronic checklist (ECL) on an aircraft display by highlighting a current step in the ECL by surrounding the current step by a dotted line, the ECL comprising one or more steps involving one or more controls;

activate a visual indicator associated with the one or more controls corresponding to a current step in the ECL;

receive an indication corresponding to the current step indicating that the current step has been completed; and

upon receiving the indication indicating that the current step has been completed incorrectly, issue a verbal warning announcement.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, having additional computer-executable instructions that further cause the computer to receive an indication that an action has been completed from a physical actuator associated with and responsive to a control of the flight deck control panel.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, having additional computer-executable instructions that further cause the computer to receive an indication that an action has been completed from an aircraft system associated with and responsive to a control of the flight deck control panel.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, having additional computer-executable instructions that further cause the computer to provide a current checklist indicator which provides a textual description of the condition relating to the checklist.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, having additional computer-executable instructions that further cause the computer to, concurrently with displaying the one or more steps of the ECL, also display a checklist override button.