Aircraft Damage Detection Using Multi-Sensor Alert Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircrafts face challenges in promptly detecting and responding to damage, such as foreign object damage or internal component detachment, which can hinder flight deck crew's ability to take appropriate action during emergencies due to limited information availability.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that receives data from multiple sensors to determine damage occurrence and severity, controlling output signals to provide critical information to operators, including location and performance effects, with the ability to transmit alerts to both the flight deck and remote health monitoring facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and parameters are monitored to improve damage detection accuracy, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damage detection system is segmented into multiple independent sensor modules, each monitoring specific parameters (vibration, temperature, pressure, acoustic emissions). Each sensor processes its own data stream independently, then results are integrated to form a comprehensive damage assessment. This segmentation allows high measurement precision through specialized sensors while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system serves multiple functions: it processes data from various sensor types, performs damage detection algorithms, generates alerts, and communicates with both flight deck and remote facilities. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single integrated platform, improving detection accuracy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Loss of information
If real-time damage detection and multiple alert outputs are implemented, then information availability to flight deck crew improves, but loss of time for processing and transmitting data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary damage assessment and parameter threshold comparisons in real-time as data streams in, before full analysis is complete. When critical thresholds are exceeded, immediate alerts are generated without waiting for complete data sets. This preliminary action ensures flight deck crew receive timely information while the system continues processing for more detailed analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary that receives data from multiple sensors, processes it through damage detection algorithms, and simultaneously outputs alerts to multiple destinations (flight deck display, remote health monitoring facility). This intermediary function consolidates processing time rather than allowing sequential transmission to each destination, reducing overall time loss while maintaining comprehensive information availability.
3Reliability
If damage data is transmitted to both flight deck and remote health monitoring facility, then reliability of damage assessment improves, but loss of time for dual transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alert transmission function merges data streams and consolidates damage information into a single formatted message that is simultaneously transmitted to both the flight deck display and the remote health monitoring facility. This combining approach ensures both destinations receive identical reliable information while performing only one transmission operation, eliminating the time penalty of separate transmissions.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for determining damage to an aircraft, the computer-implemented method comprising: (i) receiving first data from a first sensor, the first data comprising values for a first parameter of an aircraft; (ii) determining whether damage has occurred to the aircraft using the values of the first data; (iii) receiving second data from a second sensor, the second data comprising values for a second parameter of the aircraft; (iv) determining whether damage has occurred to the aircraft using the values of the second data; and (v) controlling output of a signal comprising data indicating the occurrence of damage to the aircraft using an occurrence of damage determined at step (ii) and/or an occurrence of damage determined at step (iv).