Aircraft Lighting Integration for Airborne Particulate Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrating airborne atmospheric particulate sensing devices with aircraft surfaces is challenging due to the need for additional passages through the fuselage, which is costly and time-consuming, and existing solutions do not efficiently utilize existing aircraft infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
The co-location of a Short Range Particulate (SRP) sensor with existing aircraft lighting assemblies, such as Fuselage Aircraft Anti-collision Lights (FACL), allowing integration without additional fuselage passages, and utilizing existing infrastructure for power and data connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a surface mounted sensor penetrating the fuselage is retrofitted, then sensing capability is improved, but installation cost and time increase due to mechanical, electrical, and optical infrastructure modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the SRP sensor with the existing FACL assembly by integrating the sensor housing into the light housing structure. The sensor optical element is positioned within the same aperture that the anti-collision light uses, eliminating the need for separate fuselage penetrations. This merging of functions directly reduces installation time and cost while maintaining sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The FACL assembly is designed to serve dual purposes: providing anti-collision lighting and housing the SRP sensor. The light housing structure is modified to accommodate both the optical element for lighting and the optical element for sensing through the same aperture. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional infrastructure modifications.
2Ease of manufacture
If additional passages are created through the fuselage for sensor integration, then sensor mounting is improved, but installation cost and certification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor mounting function with the existing FACL housing structure. The sensor is mounted within the same aperture and housing that accommodates the anti-collision light, eliminating the need for separate fuselage passages. This approach reduces infrastructure modification complexity while maintaining ease of sensor mounting.
3Measurement precision
If a new sensor is installed on the aircraft surface, then detection capability is improved, but aircraft downtime and operational loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The SRP sensor is integrated with the FACL assembly, allowing the sensor to be installed during existing maintenance or certification activities rather than requiring separate aircraft downtime. The combined assembly can be installed and certified together, minimizing operational loss while improving detection capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces installation costs, certification requirements, and aircraft downtime, while optimizing size, weight, power, and cost, and provides enhanced aircraft safety through improved particulate detection and atmospheric condition monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
with a laser of the SRP sensor extending through the dome head
Implementation Method 2
a sensor comprising a short range particulate (SRP) sensor... generating a data signal in response to a received reflected optical signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A sensor assembly comprises a device mounted on a surface of a vehicle and extending through at least one passage in the surface of the vehicle, and a sensor comprising a short range particulate (SRP) sensor, or a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) air data sensor. The sensor is co-located and integrated with the device mounted on the surface of the vehicle. No additional passages through the surface of the vehicle are needed to integrate the sensor with the device.