Air Data Reasoner for Dissimilar Sensor Source Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft sensors often provide redundant data that can be cumbersome and lead to confusion or selection of less trustworthy sources due to the overwhelming amount and organization of data, potentially resulting in erroneous data usage by pilots and consuming systems.
Innovation Solution
An air data reasoner system that evaluates aircraft sensor data using performance models based on flight conditions, environmental conditions, and sensor placement to determine the most accurate and reliable source for each parameter, generating a list of redundant sources and standardized error thresholds for consuming systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple redundant aircraft sensors are used to measure the same parameters, then data reliability is improved, but data organization complexity increases and confusion is created
Solution Approach 1:
An air data reasoner system acts as an intermediary between multiple redundant aircraft sensors and consuming systems. The reasoner receives data from all sensors, evaluates their accuracy using performance models, and selects the most accurate source for each parameter. This intermediary function resolves the contradiction by maintaining high data reliability through redundancy while simplifying data organization for consuming systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the performance and accuracy of each sensor source, dynamically selecting the most accurate data source for each parameter. The air data reasoner evaluates sensor performance in real-time and adjusts data selection based on current accuracy assessments, ensuring reliable data while maintaining simple organized output.
2Reliability
If all redundant sensor data is provided to consuming systems, then data availability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to overwhelming data volume
Solution Approach 1:
The air data reasoner extracts and provides only the most accurate data source for each parameter to consuming systems, rather than providing all redundant sensor data. By taking out only the essential high-quality data while maintaining access to multiple sources for verification, the system improves ease of operation while preserving data availability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the redundant sensor data by evaluating each sensor's performance and organizing data sources by accuracy level. The air data reasoner divides the data stream into ranked sources, allowing consuming systems to easily access the most accurate data while maintaining the option to reference alternative sources if needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dissimilar sensors are used to measure the same parameter, then system versatility is improved, but measurement precision evaluation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The air data reasoner implements a universal performance evaluation framework that can assess the accuracy of dissimilar sensor types using the same methodology. The system applies performance models universally across different sensor technologies (e.g., pitot-static probes, laser-based sensors, acoustic sensors), enabling accurate comparison and selection despite hardware differences, thus maintaining measurement precision while supporting sensor versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air data reasoner system (100) for evaluating aircraft sensor data obtained from aircraft sensors performs the following steps to generate organized outputs of aircraft sensor data. The system (100) receives aircraft parameter values for various aircraft parameters from the plurality of aircraft sensors. The system (100) selects applicable performance models for the aircraft parameter values from the repository of performance models (110). The system (100) executes the applicable performance models to generate accuracy values corresponding to each of the aircraft parameter values. The system (100) determines the most accurate parameter values and corresponding source aircraft sensor. The system (100) compiles a list of available redundant source aircraft sensors. The system (100) generates a threshold table with operating thresholds for each parameter. The system (100) outputs the most accurate parameter values, the corresponding source aircraft sensors, the list of available redundant source aircraft sensors, and the threshold table to consuming systems (106).