# 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.

- **Patent:** US 11919658
- **Original title:** Automated pilot visibility lights
- **Owner:** Goodrich Corp
- **Granted:** 2024
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 1
- **Field:** aerospace, ai_ml, mechanical

## What it does

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 does NOT 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.

## 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

## 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.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How Aircraft Automatically Adjust Exterior Lights Using Computer Vision cover?

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.

### Who owns patent US 11919658?

Goodrich Corp owns this patent, granted in 2024.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on March 5, 2044, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What is patent US 11919658 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

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.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover manual control of lights by a pilot.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11919658/starship-payload-bay

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US11919658

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._