Method and apparatus for estimating airspeed of an aircraft

Abstract

A method and apparatus for estimating the airspeed of an aircraft. The device (1) comprises a first estimating unit (10) configured to estimate the airspeed of the aircraft according to a first estimating method, a second estimating unit (20A, 20B) configured to estimate the airspeed of the aircraft according to a second estimating method ), a weighting unit (30) configured to weight the two airspeeds estimated by the first and second estimation methods, and a calculation unit configured to add the weighted airspeeds to obtain an estimated airspeed (VAE) of the aircraft (40).

Description

technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a device for estimating the airspeed of an aircraft.

[0002] The term "airspeed" designates equally the Mach number of the aircraft (defined as the ratio between the speed of the aircraft and the speed of sound under the flight conditions of the aircraft) and the so-called conventional speed of the aircraft ("calibrated airspeed"). Background technique

[0003] Generally, airspeed is estimated on board an aircraft from two pressure measurements:

[0004] - first, the total pressure obtained using a single pitot; and

[0005] -Secondly, the static pressure measured using a static pressure probe flush with the aircraft's fuselage skin.

[0006] Pitot and static pressure probes are exposed to the external environment and can be disturbed by substances or objects upstream of the pipe that can partially or fully block the corresponding sensor, resulting in erroneous pressure measurements.

[0007] Therefore, it woul...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0062] figure 1 An aircraft AC is schematically illustrated to which the device 1 for estimating the airspeed of an aircraft AC, for example a transport aircraft, can be applied.

[0063] According to the present invention, such as figure 2 As shown in , the estimation device 1 (hereinafter denoted as device 1) includes:

[0064] - a first estimating unit 10 configured to estimate the airspeed of the aircraft according to a first estimating method using the lift equation, the airspeed estimated by the first estimating unit 10 being called angle of attack airspeed VAI;

[0065] - a second estimation unit 20A, 20B configured to estimate the airspeed of the aircraft according to a second estimation method using at least two pressure values ​​obtained from at least two static pressure sensors arranged on the aircraft such that:

[0066] - a first of said at least two sensors is positioned such that the pressure measured by the first sensor varies according to the Mach number of...

technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a device for estimating the airspeed of an aircraft.

[0002] The term "airspeed" designates equally the Mach number of the aircraft (defined as the ratio between the speed of the aircraft and the speed of sound under the flight conditions of the aircraft) and the so-called conventional speed of the aircraft ("calibrated airspeed"). Background technique

[0003] Generally, airspeed is estimated on board an aircraft from two pressure measurements:

[0004] - first, the total pressure obtained using a single pitot; and

[0005] -Secondly, the static pressure measured using a static pressure probe flush with the aircraft's fuselage skin.

[0006] Pitot and static pressure probes are exposed to the external environment and can be disturbed by substances or objects upstream of the pipe that can partially or fully block the corresponding sensor, resulting in erroneous pressure measurements.

[0007] Therefore, it woul...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0062] figure 1 An aircraft AC is schematically illustrated to which the device 1 for estimating the airspeed of an aircraft AC, for example a transport aircraft, can be applied.

[0063] According to the present invention, such as figure 2 As shown in , the estimation device 1 (hereinafter denoted as device 1) includes:

[0064] - a first estimating unit 10 configured to estimate the airspeed of the aircraft according to a first estimating method using the lift equation, the airspeed estimated by the first estimating unit 10 being called angle of attack airspeed VAI;

[0065] - a second estimation unit 20A, 20B configured to estimate the airspeed of the aircraft according to a second estimation method using at least two pressure values ​​obtained from at least two static pressure sensors arranged on the aircraft such that:

[0066] - a first of said at least two sensors is positioned such that the pressure measured by the first sensor varies according to the Mach number of...

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