Mid-fidelity simulation approach and method for flight crew training and evaluation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11216146-B2
Application number	US-201916275723-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2019
Priority date	Feb 14, 2019
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A system for mid-fidelity simulation may include a memory configured to store data representing a flight scenario. The system may further include a display device configured to present a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including representations of a first set of control interfaces, the first set of control interfaces including one or more features that are common between multiple aircraft, the graphical user interface omitting one or more features of the first set of control interfaces that are not common between the multiple aircraft. The system may also include a processor configured to perform a simulation of the flight scenario while receiving user input and displaying user output via the representations of the first set of control interfaces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for mid-fidelity simulation comprising:
a memory configured to store data representing a flight scenario, the flight scenario applicable to a first aircraft and a second aircraft, wherein the first aircraft and the second aircraft have common control interfaces, being common between the first aircraft and the second aircraft, and distinct control interfaces, being unique to the first aircraft or the second aircraft;
a display device configured to present a graphical user interface to a user, wherein the graphical user interface includes representations of the common control interfaces, and wherein the graphical user interface omits the distinct control interfaces that are unique to the first aircraft or the second aircraft; and
a processor configured to perform a simulation of the flight scenario while receiving user input and displaying user output via the representations of the common control interfaces.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight scenario includes at least one in-flight event.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one in-flight event includes an aircraft operation event, wherein the aircraft operation event includes smoke or fire in a cabin of an aircraft, smoke or fire in a cargo hold of the aircraft, depressurization in the cabin of the aircraft, a low fuel warning, a weather advisory warning, or a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one in-flight event includes a script-based event, wherein the script-based event includes a medical diversion scenario, an unruly passenger scenario, a cabin technical problem scenario, a turbulence scenario, or a combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
monitor the user input during the simulation of the flight scenario; and
compare the user input to a comparative standard user input, wherein the display device is configured to present a checklist to the user when the user input does not satisfy the comparative standard user input.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify one or more parameters of the flight scenario based on the user input during the simulation of the flight scenario for future simulations.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a state of the simulation after the simulation is completed; and
compare the state of the simulation to a comparative standard state, wherein the display device is configured to present a checklist to the user when the state of the simulation does not satisfy the comparative standard state.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify one or more parameters of the flight scenario based on the state of the simulation after the simulation is completed for future simulations.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a training level, wherein the common control interfaces are associated with the training level.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to store feedback data regarding the simulation, the feedback data indicating a number of clicks to resolve a problem, time taken to resolve the problem, number of control interfaces explored, or a combination thereof.

11. A method for mid-fidelity simulation comprising:
generating a graphical user interface at a processor device, the graphical user interface including representations of a first set of control interfaces, wherein the set of control interfaces is aircraft-agnostic to multiple aircraft such that the set of control interfaces is common between the multiple aircraft and the graphical user interface omitting features of the first set of control interfaces omits any control interfaces that are not common between the multiple aircraft; and
performing a simulation of a flight scenario while receiving user input and displaying user output via the representations of the set of control interfaces.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of control interfaces are color coded, having at least a first color denoting control interfaces that are user accessible and at least a second color denoting data calculated during the simulation.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first set of control interfaces includes a flight management system, a navigation system, a fuel management system, a flight control system, an engine system, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the flight scenario includes at least one in-flight event wherein the set of control interfaces are associated with the at least one in-flight event.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a training level, wherein the first set of control interfaces is associated with the training level.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of control interfaces include features that are not common between the multiple aircraft, wherein the features include positions of the set of control interfaces on a flight deck, shapes of the set of control interfaces, sizes of the set of control interfaces, or a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of control interfaces includes a flight management system selectable button, a navigation system selectable button, a fuel management system selectable button, a flight control system selectable button, and an engine system selectable button.

18. A method for mid-fidelity simulation comprising:
generating a flight scenario applicable to a first aircraft and a second aircraft, wherein the first aircraft and the second aircraft include a set of common control interfaces that are common between the first aircraft and the second aircraft and a set of distinct control interfaces that are unique to the first aircraft or the second aircraft;
generating a graphical user interface that includes representations of the set of common control interfaces, wherein the graphical user interface includes representations of only the set of common control interfaces, excluding the set of distinct control interfaces; and
performing a simulation of the flight scenario while receiving user input and displaying user output via the representations of the set of common control interfaces.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein generating the flight scenario comprises iteratively performing the simulation and modifying parameters based on feedback data.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the set of common control interfaces includes a flight management system selectable button, a navigation system selectable button, a fuel management system selectable button, a flight control system selectable button, an engine system selectable button, or a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Cameron Mark Richard
• Dahlstrom Nicklas
• Kennedy Richard James
• Rodriguez Rosa Maria
• Ballesteros Pedro Taboso

Classifications

• G09B9/16 Primary

  Ambient or aircraft conditions simulated or indicated by instrument or alarm · CPC title

• G06F3/0481 Primary

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G09B9/08 Primary

  for teaching control of aircraft, e.g. Link trainer · CPC title