Aircraft Engine Foreign Object Protection via AI-Actuated Iris Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft engines are vulnerable to bird strikes during takeoff, landing, and daytime, leading to flight delays, cancellations, injuries, and engine damage, with existing solutions like fixed gates or screens obstructing airflow and increasing fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors, a processing subsystem with AI for detecting foreign objects, and a blade arrangement with a meshed structure that automatically closes to prevent strikes while allowing airflow, using a blade actuating ring to oscillate and open or close the blades based on detected threats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed gate or screen is placed in front of the aircraft engine to prevent foreign object strikes, then protection against foreign objects is improved, but airflow is obstructed resulting in increased fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamic blade arrangement that can move between open and closed positions based on detected foreign objects. Unlike fixed gates or screens that continuously obstruct airflow, the blades are actuated only when needed, allowing unrestricted airflow during normal operation and providing protection only when foreign objects are detected, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and fuel efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic sensing and actuation cycles where sensors continuously monitor for foreign objects and the blades are closed only during detected threat periods. This periodic action pattern ensures protection is provided intermittently when needed while maintaining open airflow paths during normal operation, eliminating continuous fuel penalty associated with fixed protective structures
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If sensors and processing systems are added to detect foreign objects and control blade actuation, then foreign object detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into unified components: the sensing module performs both detection and initial processing, the processing subsystem handles both data analysis and control signal generation, and the blade arrangement provides both protection and airflow management. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to separate dedicated components for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the sensing, processing, and actuation functions into an integrated control architecture where the processing subsystem directly receives sensor data and generates actuation commands in a unified workflow. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate subsystems and interfaces, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining advanced detection and control capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A system 100 for preventing striking of foreign objects on an aircraft engine is disclosed. The system includes a sensing module 102 positioned at multiple locations on the aircraft engine to obtain data related to presence of a foreign object within a proximity of the aircraft engine. The system includes a processing subsystem 108 that includes an analysis module 114 to enable sensor fusion of the data to detect the presence of the foreign object using artificial intelligence. Subsequently, a signal is generated and transmitted to a protecting unit 116. The analysis module is configured to activate an Iris mechanism automatically in the protecting unit. The protecting unit includes a blade arrangement that closes thereby preventing foreign objects from striking the aircraft engine.