How Aircraft Automatically Adjust Exterior Lights Using Computer Vision

An automated system for airplanes that turns on landing and taxi lights based on altitude and uses AI to adjust brightness depending on real-time visibility conditions.

What it covers

This patent describes a system that manages an aircraft's exterior lights, such as landing or taxi lights, without requiring a pilot to flip switches. It uses a controller to monitor the plane's altitude; once the plane is below a certain height, the system automatically activates the lights. To ensure the lights are effective, the system captures images from exterior cameras and feeds them into a trained machine learning model. This model classifies the current visibility (e.g., fog, rain, or clear) and automatically adjusts the intensity of the light output to maximize visibility for the pilot.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover manual control of lights by a pilot.
• —Does not cover systems that rely solely on GPS or weather station data without using image classification.
• —Does not cover lighting systems that only toggle on/off without adjusting the magnitude of the light output.
• —Does not cover interior cabin or cockpit lighting.

The clever bit

The system uses a 'max-magnitude' logic: if the AI processes multiple images, it automatically selects the visibility classification that results in the brightest light output, ensuring the pilot always has the best possible view.

Why it matters

Managing aircraft lighting during taxiing and takeoff is a routine but critical task that can distract pilots during high-workload phases of flight. By automating this, the system reduces human error and ensures optimal lighting conditions in varying weather, which is essential for safety on busy runways and during low-visibility operations.

Real-world examples

• 1.Automated landing light activation during final approach
• 2.Dynamic taxi light dimming or brightening based on runway fog density
• 3.Runway turnoff light adjustment during low-visibility ground operations