210results about "Aircraft black boxes" patented technology

A system and apparatus for data recording and analyzing operational data and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The apparatus can monitor and record data generated by a plurality of operational and extended sensors each positioned on a moving platform. The data recording and analysis system can analyze the sensor data during movement and, by performing a statistical analysis of the operational data, can advantageously adjust one or more selected performance capabilities of the platform. For example, the performance envelope of a platform can be increased or decreased according to the experience of an operator. The recorded data can be transmitted at any suitable time, including during and/or after travel. The apparatus provides redundant storage capability and the ability to store information on removable media to enable sharing of data. Thereby, the system, apparatus and method advantageously can optimize the operator's overall experience controlling a platform.

A method and system for acquiring and recording on-board data relative to the movement of a vehicle, whereby a sequence of images of a control panel of the vehicle is acquired by a video camera installed in a cockpit of the vehicle, and is then recorded in a storage device; at the same time, a position of the vehicle is determined by means of a satellite locating device, and the position assumed by the vehicle at the time the image is acquired is related to each image stored in the storage device.

A method and apparatus for transmitting data. An aircraft data transmission system comprises an aircraft flight data transmitter. The aircraft flight data transmitter is configured to be connected to a connector for an on-board flight data recorder system for an aircraft. The aircraft flight data transmitter is further configured to receive data generated by sensors in the aircraft from the on-board flight data recorder system. The aircraft flight data transmitter is further configured to determine whether an undesired condition is present in the aircraft using the data. The aircraft flight data transmitter is further configured to initiate sending of at least a portion of the data received from the on-board flight data recorder system over a wireless communications link in response to a determination that the undesired condition is present in the aircraft.

Commercial aircraft (11) having a black box (41) comprising a flight data recorder (49) connected to suitable acquisition units (13, 14, 15) for recording information required for crash investigation purposes inside a container (43), wherein the aircraft (11) comprises a crash detection device (17); the black box (41) is installed in a suitable location for being ejected outside the aircraft in a crash event through a duct (21, 31) having its exit in a fuselage area where the ejected black box (41) would not impact on the aircraft; the aircraft (11) also comprises ejection means (23, 33), controlled by a black box ejection control unit (19) connected to said crash detection device (17), for ejecting the black box (41) through said duct (21, 31), when an impending crash is detected by said crash detection device (17).

A method of transmitting aircraft flight data for an aircraft from the aircraft to a destination server via a wireless communication link with the method including determining an operational status of the aircraft, determining flight data to be transmitted, and transmitting the determined flight data to be transmitted to the destination server.

A method and apparatus for an aircraft location system comprising an aircraft structure and a number of acoustic reflectors associated with the aircraft structure. The number of acoustic reflectors is configured to generate first sound signals in response to receiving second sound signals.

A real-time flight information backup system and method thereof are disclosed. A flight data collector is disposed in a flying machine. The flight condition parameters of the flying machine are collected during the flight. The important black box records of the flight condition parameters are captured by a flight data recorder. The cockpit voice records are recorded by a cockpit voice recorder. The flight condition parameters, the black box records and the cockpit voice records are extracted by a flight record retriever and stored in a temporary memory. The above flight records are encoded by an encoder to form a backup flight data. The backup flight data is sent to a communication satellite by an antenna of a wireless network transmitter. The backup flight data is sent to a network base station by the communication satellite and stored in a backup server.

A device for aiding the localization of an aircraft wreck submerged in a sea is arranged inside the aircraft. The device includes at least one beacon that is able to emit remotely detectable signals. Upon immersion of the aircraft in water, an ejection device automatically ejects the beacon out of the aircraft. The ejection device includes a piston system that generates an opening in the aircraft and expels the beacon accordingly. Also after immersion of the aircraft in water, a trigger device automatically triggers the emission of signals from the beacon.

A multifunction avionics server provide for the execution of both certified and uncertified applications in data-serving capacities in which one certified application provides near real-time transmission of flight data recorder type of data. By combining these functions, improved aircraft monitoring is obtained without significant cost or weight penalties.

A deployable airfoil unit is disclosed. It has a housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface joined by a top surface, two opposing side surfaces, and a bottom surface. The top surface and the front surface form an acute angle, and the top surface is larger than the bottom surface. A memory is configured to store flight data or cockpit voice data. A center of mass in the unit is configurable.

The invention relates to a method and device for the remote collection of data from aircraft or ship recorders using a buoy (3) which can be ejected in the event of sinking and contains a double memory which stores the positions of the buoy during the drift thereof as well as information relating to the flight or crossing. A two-way radio communication means allows the buoy to transfer the contents of said memories to a remote collection means, such as a reconnaissance aeroplane.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a release device that uses an electro-mechanical mechanism instead of an explosive to deploy a deployable unit such as a flight data recorder. In one embodiment of the invention, a solenoid is activated that causes a piston surrounded by the solenoid to move which moves a pin attached to the piston and allows a spring to decompress and deploy a deployable unit. In some embodiments, a release actuator mechanism, a pneumatic actuator mechanism, a shape memory alloy or a combination thereof may be used to affect deployment of the deployable unit.

The present invention consists of a device especially configured for enabling locating an aircraft quickly which due to an accident has fallen in an area where the search for the remains is especially difficult, such as the sea or mountainous areas. It is made up of a container (1) with an automated lock (7) divided internally into two chambers (2 and 3) in which metal sheets (4) and hollow spheres (5) are introduced; an attached beacon (6), a memory circuit (14); and it is operated by means of an automated control. All these elements form an assembly as a result of a protective and waterproof shell (8) joining them together. It also has an anchor (10) joining it to the outer part of the aircraft where it is arranged, which allows automating the release of the device as the result of a signal indicating the imminence of an accident.

When flights meet disaster in the mid-air, the cause of the mishap is unknown immediately. Teams are dispatched in difficult conditions to retrieve the flight data recorder (FDR) also known as black box. Until the black box is found, the exact cause of the crash cannot be determined. Sometimes it may take years to find the black box. For example, Air France flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Jun. 1, 2009. The cause of the accident remained unknown mainly because the black box was missing. It was found after almost two years in May 2011. The delay in finding the flight data creates risks for future flights if the crash occurred due to a manufacturing defect in the model of the plane. The ability to reach the data without the burden and need for a physical black box has obvious benefits. This idea has been discussed in the literature but no one has put forth a functional and effective method for the implementation of this concept, for example no one has determined an appropriate software scheme that would enable a universal system that doesn't need a black box or which can function in parallel with black box. In this project, a set of algorithms for reliable transmission of flight data in real-time to distributed ground servers is developed. The attached description presents an overall structure of the proposed scheme. We also describe the methods of communicating between at least one plane server, several data servers and at least one central server controlling various components of data transmission, and the algorithms that enable the communication of data. In addition, the proposed packet header formats, the packet type codes and fault tolerance features are described.

A method of controlling an aircraft in the event of pilot incapacity includes detecting, using at least one sensor, the occurrence of an event relating to a pilot's capacity to control the aircraft, determining whether the event justifies a controlled takeover of the aircraft from the pilot, asserting a controlled takeover of the aircraft from the pilot if it has been determined that a controlled takeover is justified, and executing a controlled landing of the aircraft without assistance of the pilot.