Aircraft Capability Monitoring Using Flight Envelope Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft health monitoring systems do not effectively evaluate and predict the operational capabilities of aircraft in real-time, limiting their ability to manage performance goals such as safety, passenger comfort, and cost during flight.
Innovation Solution
A performance monitoring system that uses flight state data and a model of the aircraft to identify current performance and capability, allowing for operations to be adjusted based on these assessments, incorporating a performance monitor, flight envelope monitor, and capability identifier to display and manage aircraft capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional health monitoring systems are used to track aircraft parameters, then sensor data collection is achieved, but real-time evaluation and prediction of operational capabilities is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes a comprehensive aircraft model containing performance parameters, configuration data, and environmental conditions before flight. This preliminary preparation enables rapid real-time capability evaluation by comparing actual sensor data against pre-computed performance envelopes, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and real-time efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data is constantly compared against the aircraft model to update capability assessments in real-time. This feedback mechanism maintains high measurement precision for operational capabilities while improving monitoring efficiency through automated deviation detection and alerting
2Loss of information
If comprehensive sensor data is collected for all aircraft parameters, then monitoring coverage is improved, but the ability to determine current operational capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and isolates the specific capability determination function from the comprehensive health monitoring system. By creating a dedicated capability identifier that focuses solely on evaluating operational capabilities from sensor data, the system prevents information loss while managing complexity through functional specialization
Solution Approach 2:
The aircraft model serves as an intermediary between raw sensor data and capability assessment. This intermediate layer processes and interprets comprehensive sensor information, translating it into meaningful operational capability determinations without requiring direct complex analysis of all sensor parameters
3Reliability
If real-time capability identification is implemented, then operational safety and fuel efficiency are improved, but additional monitoring components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system designs the capability identifier to perform multiple functions: safety assessment, fuel efficiency optimization, and operational recommendation generation. This multi-functionality improves reliability across multiple operational dimensions while avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems for each function
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and apparatus for monitoring an aircraft. A current performance of the aircraft is identified during operation of the aircraft using a model of the aircraft and flight state data. A current capability of the aircraft is identified from the current performance of the aircraft. An operation is performed based on the current capability of the aircraft.