FR3055884A3 - AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANAGEMENT DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flight management device comprising a control module in connection with an application library, a tactile display surface, a first database comprising a list of events that can occur on the surface of the device. displaying and initiating a command on an application, and a second database comprising a list of the applications present in the library. The flight management device according to the invention is remarkable in that the tactile display surface comprises an invariant display area configured to display at least a first graphic element associated with an application, called a permanent flight management application, and a variable display area configured to display at least one second graphic element associated with another application, called a temporary application. Thus, the flight management device according to the invention makes it possible to organize the applications according to the need of the crew and secures access to the applications necessary for managing the flight for the duration of the flight.

Description

The invention relates to an aircraft flight management device and more particularly to a reconfigurable flight management device to enable the crew to display the information and commands necessary to control the flight of the aircraft. aircraft according to the wishes and needs of a crew while guaranteeing access to information essential to flying.

Conventionally, a flight management device comprises screens and actuators in the form of physical buttons mechanical or digital. The screens are arranged on consoles for example arranged under the windshield and also screens or head-up displays or HUD ("Head Up Display" in English terminology). The HUD displays make it possible to superimpose additional information to the reality thanks to a projection system collimated on a transparent glass placed in front of the pilot.

Document PCT / US2005 / 010335 describes, in particular, a method and a system for displaying information necessary for carrying out aircraft operations. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving operation information, presenting a first portion of that information to a first area of a first size display medium, receiving a signal corresponding to an instruction of view of increasing a portion of the display medium occupied by the operation information, and presenting at least the first portion of the operation information on a second larger area of the display medium. Several display media can be controlled by independent selectors, each selector having two parts, one for selecting categories of aircraft operations information, the other for presenting selected selection groups of options. to each of the individual categories of operation information.

Document PCT / FR2009 / 000756 describes a flight management device that makes it possible to display very diverse information in order to carry out the piloting. This flight management device comprises several fixed screens and is arranged to accommodate at least one mobile screen stored on a retractable shelf when not in use and occupying multiple positions depending on its use.

The multiplication of the buttons as well as the multiplication of the data displayed makes it more difficult to find information, especially when a specific procedure has to be performed. There exists today in an aircraft cockpit a plurality of different interfaces to perform all the tasks necessary to control the aircraft.

The present invention relates to a flight management device remedying all or part of the disadvantages of the prior art. For this purpose, the present invention relates to a flight management device comprising a control module in connection with an application library, a tactile display surface, a first database comprising a list of events that can occur on the display surface and initiating a command on an application, and a second database comprising a list of the applications present in the library. The flight management device according to the invention is remarkable in that the tactile display surface comprises an invariant display area configured to display at least a first graphic element associated with an application, called a permanent flight management application, and a variable display area configured to display at least one second graphic element associated with another application, called a temporary application.

Thus, the flight management device according to the invention makes it possible to organize the applications according to the need of the crew and secures access to the applications necessary for the management of the flight for the duration of this one.

Preferably, the flight management device according to the invention comprises means for securing the invariant display area configured to block the execution of temporary applications on the invariant display area.

According to an alternative embodiment, the security means comprise an associated category indicator in the second database for each application Al ... An and determining whether the application is a permanent application or a temporary application.

Advantageously, the flight management device according to the invention comprises means of protection of the invariant display area configured to allow the execution of a list of commands on a permanent flight management application and to block the execution of an order not present on this list.

According to an alternative embodiment, the protection means comprise an authorization index of the execution of the command in the invariant display area associated with each event listed in the first database.

Preferably, the flight management device according to the invention comprises blocking means configured to block the execution of a temporary application on a domain of the variable display area when this temporary application is running on a other area of the variable display area.

According to a particularity, the flight management device according to the invention comprises means for automatically executing temporary applications when the control module receives alert messages in the event of failure of an avionic system.

Advantageously, the flight management device according to the invention comprises first reset means configured to display on the invariant display area, the set of permanent applications in an initial configuration.

The flight management device according to the invention comprises second reset means configured to stop the execution and display of temporary applications and to have on each of the domains of the variable display area at least one graphic element associated with a temporary application. Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description given below as an indication in relation to drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the flight device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the display surface of the flight management device according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the display surface of the flight management device according to a variant of FIG. embodiment of the invention, and Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating a detail of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, a flight management device 1 according to the invention comprises a control module 2 in conjunction with a library 3 of applications Al ... An, a tactile display surface 4 and a first 5 and second 6 databases. According to an alternative embodiment, the tactile display surface 4 is coupled to a human-machine interface 7 (such as a keyboard or a stylus).

For the whole of this application, "application" defines a program or set of programs executable by a computer and allowing the realization of a defined operation.

The display surface 4 comprises a plurality of graphic elements each initiating the execution of an application Al ... An.

The control module 2 comprises a central unit, such as a computer comprising a processor, a set of electronic cards and a memory zone. The control module 2 also comprises means of communication to equipment on board the aircraft, such as, for example, computers 8, communication channels 9 (VHF or satellites) or failure detection means 10 an avionics system.

According to the invention, the control module 2 acts as an application manager of all applications Al ... An of the application library 3. The control module 2 analyzes an event occurring on the tactile display surface 4. For example, the event is a contact with the display surface 4, such as a touch of the finger or a movement with a stylus but the event can also be a key press on a keyboard, or through a cursor or a dedicated control means. The control module 2 determines, in an internal reference, the initial and final coordinates of the event to identify the application Al ... An selected, and characterizes a gesture corresponding to a command. For example, the gesture corresponding to the activation command of an application is a double-touch. These events and their processing are identical to those used in most tactile devices (mobile phones, tablets) and are not described any more.

According to the invention, the events can be of a first type or a second type. The events of the first type include all the events associated with a command executable by the control module 2, such as closing or moving the identified application. Events of the second type include all the events associated with a command executable directly by the application identified as the recipient of these events, such as the modification of an avionics parameter or the execution of another application.

The first database 5 contains a list of events with the display surface 4 and associates with each of these events a category marker. At each event, the control module 2 categorizes it.

The Al ... An application library 3 comprises a first plurality of applications, called permanent flight management applications et.,. ΑΡη, and a second plurality of applications, called temporary applications ΑΤΙ. perform auxiliary operations. Each Al ... An application has a level of access authorization, via control module 2, to data, commands and avionics services.

The permanent flight management applications are applications for displaying information and commands that the crew needs throughout the flight. For example, the permanent flight management application ΑΡΙ,. .Η is a NAV application configured to display flight information such as altitude, speed and trajectory. The permanent flight management application APl ... APn can also be a COM application configured to activate / deactivate the communication channels available in the cockpit (to an air traffic control center, to the cabin, to the flight crew). ) and display the text of the messages exchanged between the different interlocutors (such an application is described in particular in document EP2674926). The flight management permanent application peut.,. ΑΡη may also be a PHASE application configured to display information relating to a selected flight phase, such as the configuration and performance of the aircraft for the current phase and the flights. others, as well as shortcuts to temporary applications.

Temporary applications ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη are applications that allow access to information, commands or services at the request of the crew. Temporary applications ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη are applications developed by the aircraft manufacturer or by the airline or public applications. For example, the temporary application ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη is a MAP application configured to display a map of the terrain overflown by the aircraft and manage a trap of the aircraft (such an application is described in document EP2790168) or prepare the approach on the destination field or ground. The temporary application ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη may also be a SYSTEMS application configured to display the state of a system and identify the cause of a failure (such as the application described in EP2902323). The temporary application ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη can also be a communication application such as SKYPE®.

The second database 6 contains a list of Al ... An applications present in the library 3 and associates with each of the applications Al ... An a category indicator, the category indicator determining whether the application Al .. .An is a permanent application ΑΡΙ.,. ΑΡη or a temporary application ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη. The categorization of an Al ... An application is decided by the aeronautical manufacturer or the airline.

Some permanent applications ΑΡΙ.,. ΑΡη allow the execution of a temporary application ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη. For example, the tracking of flight phases via the PHASE application requires the MAP application to be able to display the map of the terrain that will be flown during the flight. For this purpose, the second database 6 associates with each of the permanent applications Al ... An flight management a list of temporary applications ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη that can be executed from the permanent application ΑΡΙ.,. ΑΡη.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the display surface 4 comprises a plurality of graphic elements configured to execute a flight management application ΑΙ,. Suite suite à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à on point). By way of example, these graphic elements are textual elements containing all or part of the name of the application or pictograms representative of the application executable by the graphic element.

The second database 6 also lists for application Al ... An flight management a display position of the application ΑΙ.,. Αη, corresponding to the display position of the graphic element associated with the application ΑΙ,., Αη. By way of example, the display position comprises a pair of coordinates (x, y) in the reference of the display surface 4.

The display surface 4 comprises a first display area, called an invariant display area 11, and a second display area, called a variable display area 12.

According to a first variant embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, the invariant display area 11 comprises four joined areas 11a-d and is arranged at the center of the display surface 4 and the variable display area 12 comprises three areas. 12a, 12b, 12c to the right, to the left and below the invariant display area 11.

According to a second variant embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, the invariant display zone 11 comprises three domains 11a-c arranged on the periphery of the display surface 4 and the variable display zone 12 comprises four domains 12a, 12b , 12c, 12d distributed between the domains of the invariant display area 11.

The flight management device 1 comprises security means 13 of the invariant display zone 11.

The security means 13 are configured to block the display of a temporary application ATl ... ATn in the invariant display zone 11. For example, these security means 13 include the category indicator associated with each application listed in the second database 6. Thus, at each event in the invariant display area 11, the control module 2 checks in the second database 6 the category indicator of the application Al .. .An identified to determine if it is a permanent application ΑΡΙ.,. ΑΡη or a temporary application ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη associated with a permanent application ΑΡΙ.,. ΑΡη and therefore allowed to be punctually executed in the zone of invariant display 11.

The flight management device 1 comprises protection means 14 of the invariant display zone 11.

The protection means 14 are configured to allow the execution on the invariant display area 11 of a previously defined list of commands on a permanent flight management application telle,,,, telle telle telle,. closing a flight management application, displaying a parameter, entering a parameter, validating a parameter, moving an application. The first database 5 associates with each event an authorization index to determine if the command associated with this event is authorized or not in the display area 4 invariant. Thus, at each event in the invariant display zone 11, the control module 2 verifies in the first database 5 that the command associated with this event is authorized in the invariant display zone 11.

A first series of graphical elements 15a associated with the permanent flight management applications est.,. ΑΡη is displayed on the invariant display zone 11.

A second series of graphical elements 15b associated with the temporary applications ΑΤΙ,. De de de de de de de is displayed on each of the domains 12a-d of the variable display area 12. Thus, all the temporary applications ΑΤΙ. flight management are executable on each 12a-d domain. Advantageously, when a temporary application ΑΤΙ,. Estη is executed, the information, actions and services associated with this temporary application ΑΤΙ,, sont sont sont sont sont sont sont sont sont are displayed on the entire area of the domain on which the event occurred.

The flight management device 1 comprises blocking means 16 configured to prevent the execution of a temporary application ΑΤΙ, .η on a domain of the variable display area 12 when this temporary application ΑΤΙ. running on another domain. By way of example, these blocking means 16 are software tools executed by the control module 2. When a graphic element 15b is activated from a first domain 12a-d of the variable display area 12, the software tools are configured to check whether the result of the execution of the application ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη associated with this graphic element 15b is displayed on a second domain 12a-d. If this check is positive, the software tools are configured to make a screenshot of the second domain 12a-d and to display this screenshot on the first domain 12a-d simultaneously with the deletion of the display on the second domain 12a-d. domain 12a-d.

The flight management device 1 comprises automatic execution means 17 temporary applications ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη.

The control module 2 is configured to receive alert messages in the event of failure of an avionic system and the second database 6 associates with each temporary application ΑΤΙ,,, une une une une une une une une une une une une une une une a list of alert messages initiating the execution of the temporary application ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη and its display on a domain 12a-d of the variable display area 12. According to an alternative embodiment, the temporary application ΑΤΙ,. is displayed in a dedicated location of the variable display area 12. For example, in the case of smoke detection, an investigation application (such as that described in EP2902325) is executed and always displayed on the domain 12a-d located to the right of the invariant display area 11. According to another embodiment, the temporary application ATl ... ATn is displayed on the domain 12a-d on which is displayed the temporary application ATl ... ATn most recently activated. Thus, a crew member is notified of a failure and can process it immediately via the dedicated application.

The flight management device 1 comprises first reset means 18a configured to display, on the invariant display area 11, the set of permanent applications ΑΡΙ,., Dans, in an initial configuration.

The flight management device 1 comprises second reset means 18b configured to stop the execution and display of the temporary applications ATl ... ATn and to have on each of the domains 12a-d of the variable display area 12 the graphic elements 15b associated with temporary applications ATl ... ATn. By way of example, these first and second reset means 18a-b comprise a program executable by a computer and take the form of a pictogram present on the invariant display zone 11 and on each of the domains of the zone of FIG. Variable display 12. According to another example, these first and second reset means 18a-b take the form of a push button near each domain 11a-c, 12a-d of each display area 11, 12.

According to an alternative embodiment, the reset means 18 also comprise a restart button 18c of all the display zones 11, 12, configured to reset all the display zones 11, 12.

Thus, the flight management device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to organize the Al ... An applications according to the need of the crew and secures access to the applications necessary for the management of the flight for the duration of that -this.

Indeed, the permanent applications APl ... APn displayed on the invariant display area 11 are visible to the entire crew and are not affected by the handling of the crew on the display surface 4. In particular, it is impossible to move a permanent application ΑΡΙ,, affichée displayed on the invariant display area 11 or to hide it with a temporary application ΑΤΙ,,, non non non non non non non non non non,,,,,, .ΑΡη.

Claims (9)

1) Flight management device (1) comprising: a control module (2) in connection with an application library (Al ... An), a tactile display surface (4), a first base of data (5) comprising a list of events that can occur on the touch display surface (4) and initiating a command on an application (Al ... An), and a second database (6) comprising a list applications (Al ... An) present in the library characterized in that the tactile display surface (4) comprises an invariant display area (11) configured to display at least a first graphic element (15a) associated with an application (ΑΡΙ.,. ΑΡη), called a permanent flight management application, and a variable display area (12) configured to display at least one second graphic element (15b) associated with another application (ATl ... ATn), called temporary application. 2) flight management device (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises securing means (13) of the invariant display area (11) configured to block the execution of temporary applications (ATl. ..ATn) on the invariant display area (11). 3) flight management device (1) according to claim 2 characterized in that the security means (13) comprise an associated category indicator in the second database (6) to each application (Al ... An) and determining whether the application (Al ... An) is a permanent application (ΑΡΙ.,. ΑΡη) or a temporary application (ATl ... ATn). 4) Flight management device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises means of protection (14) of the invariant display area (11) configured to allow the execution a list of commands on a permanent flight management application (ΑΡΙ.,. ΑΡη) and block the execution of an order not present on this list. 5) flight management device (1) according to claim 4 characterized in that the protection means (14) comprise an authorization index of the execution of the command in the invariant display area (11) associated with each event listed in the first database (5). 6) flight management device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises blocking means (16) configured to block the execution of a temporary application (ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη) on a domain (12a-d) of the variable display area (12) when this temporary application (ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη) is running on another domain (12a-d) of the area d variable display. 7) flight management device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises means for automatic execution (17) of temporary applications (ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη) when the module of control (2) receives alert messages in the event of failure of an avionics system. 8) flight management device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises first reset means (18a) configured to display on the invariant display area (11), set of permanent applications (APl ... APn) in an initial configuration. 9) flight management device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises second reset means (18b) configured to stop the execution and display of temporary applications (ΑΤΙ .,. ΑΤη) and have on each of the domains (12a-d) of the variable display area (12) at least one graphic element (15b) associated with a temporary application (ΑΤΙ.,. ΑΤη).