Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Explain what avionics systems are and their importance.
• Describe how birds navigate in flocks.
• Relate bird navigation to modern avionics systems.
• Understand how avionics enhances flight safety and efficiency.

Lesson summary

Have you ever watched a flock of birds flying in perfect formation, or wondered how a bird can fly from Europe all the way to a specific lagoon in Ghana, like the Keta Lagoon, without a map or a phone? Nature is the original engineer. Long before humans built aircraft, birds, bats, and even bees perfected the art of navigation. In this lesson, we will explore the fascinating world of avionics—the electronic systems that act as the 'brain' and 'senses' of an aircraft. We will discover how engineers have been inspired by the incredible navigation abilities of birds to create the advanced systems that guide modern aeroplanes safely through the skies.

Lesson notes

A. What is Avionics?

The word Avionics is a combination of two words: AVIation and electrONICS. Definition: Avionics refers to all the electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites, and spacecraft. These systems perform various functions, including communication, navigation, flight control, and monitoring the aircraft's systems. Think of avionics as the aircraft's brain and nervous system. While the engines provide the power (muscles), the avionics systems tell the aircraft where to go, how to get there, and what is happening around it.

Key Avionics Systems: Navigation Systems: Tell the pilot and the aircraft its exact position and guide it along a planned route. Examples: GPS (Global Positioning System), INS (Inertial Navigation System), Magnetic Compass. Communication Systems: Allow the pilot to talk to air traffic controllers on the ground and to other aircraft. Examples: VHF and HF Radios. Flight Control Systems: Assist the pilot in flying the aircraft, sometimes even flying it automatically. Example: Autopilot. Collision Avoidance Systems: Detect other aircraft nearby and warn the pilot to prevent mid-air collisions. Example: TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System). Display Systems: Show all the important information to the pilot on screens in the cockpit (often called a "glass cockpit"). B. What is Biomimicry? Definition: Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by imitating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies. In simple terms: Learning from and mimicking nature to solve problems. The relationship between bird navigation and avionics is a perfect example of biomimicry. C. How Do Birds Navigate? (Nature's Avionics)

Birds are master navigators. They don't have screens or computers, but they use a sophisticated set of built-in biological tools. The Sun Compass: During the day, birds can use the position of the sun in the sky to determine their direction. They have an internal body clock that helps them compensate for the sun's movement throughout the day. The Star Compass: Birds that migrate at night, like the Indigo Bunting, navigate by using the stars. They learn to recognise constellations and find the North Star (Polaris) or other celestial patterns which remain fixed in the sky. Magnetoreception (The Magnetic Compass): This is one of the most amazing abilities. Birds have a built-in magnetic sense. They are believed to have special proteins in their eyes that allow them to "see" the Earth's magnetic field lines, helping them sense north and south. This gives them a reliable compass that works day or night, in clear or cloudy weather. Visual Landmarks: For shorter distances or as they get closer to their destination, birds use visual cues on the ground, such as coastlines, rivers (like the Volta River), mountains, and even major roads. Olfaction (Sense of Smell): Some birds, like pigeons, can create "smell maps" of their environment and use different scents carried on the wind to find their way home. D. Bridging the Gap: Comparing Bird Navigation to Aircraft Avionics

Evaluation guide

• Explain avionics systems in relation to the flight of a flock of birds for navigation .
• Talk for Learning: Use audio -visuals to explain the principles of navigation behind the flight of a
• flock of birds (e.g., bats in the evening/morning) and a swarm of bees. Learners watch/observe and
• conceptual