Air Data Probe Fault Detection via Transmission Loss Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air data probes used in aircraft are susceptible to blockages, leading to erroneous measurements due to icing, improper removal of covers, and insect infestation, which can result in aircraft crashes, necessitating a method to verify their proper operation during flight.
Innovation Solution
A method involving noise modeling and signal processing to determine transmission loss in air data probes, where predicted noise levels are compared to measured levels, and if the transmission loss exceeds a threshold, alerts are generated, and a weighted average air pressure is calculated to account for faulty probes, ensuring accurate measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If air data probes are used to measure aircraft altitude and speed, then measurement capability is provided, but blockages occur leading to erroneous measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of air data probe operation by comparing transmission loss characteristics against expected values before using the measurements. This advance checking prevents erroneous measurements from blockages caused by icing, insect infestation, or improper cover removal, thereby maintaining both measurement precision and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors transmission loss in air data probes and provides feedback when anomalies are detected. By comparing actual transmission loss against predicted values and generating alerts when thresholds are exceeded, the system enables real-time detection and correction of probe blockages, ensuring ongoing measurement accuracy and reliability
2Reliability
If multiple air data probes are deployed, then measurement redundancy is achieved, but difficulty in identifying faulty probes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements individual transmission loss monitoring for each air data probe, providing feedback that identifies which specific probe is faulty. By comparing transmission loss characteristics of each probe against expected values and generating targeted alerts, the system maintains measurement redundancy while simplifying fault identification
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual inspection and physical testing methods with automated electronic transmission loss measurement and comparison. This substitution enables automatic identification of faulty probes through digital signal processing and threshold comparison, reducing the difficulty of detecting and measuring probe faults while maintaining redundancy
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (500), comprising : (554) receiving measured air pressure data from each air data probe (112) on a vehicle (100) ; (550) receiving a first set of data from at least one sensor system (202A) on the vehicle (100) ; (558) determining predicted noise levels for each air data probe (112) using a noise modelling system (202A) and the received first set of data; (560) determining a transmission loss for each air data probe (112) ; (562) determining if any air data probe (112) is faulty by determining if an transmission loss of any of the air data probes (112) is greater than a first threshold value, where an air data probe (112) is deemed faulty if its transmission loss is greater than the first threshold value; and if the transmission loss of any of the air data probes (112) is greater than the first threshold value, then generating a signal to indicated that at least one air data probe (112) is faulty.