Aircraft Radar Altimeter Segmented Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar altimeters require significant installation efforts, including cutting aircraft structural members, which compromises structural integrity and aerodynamics, and often necessitate service personnel to enter the aircraft for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A compact radar altimeter design that fits between adjacent structural members without cutting, featuring a base with a small footprint, a chassis with parallel-mounted circuit boards, and an antenna module, allowing for internal installation with minimal protrusion and reduced aerodynamic impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If radar altimeter is integrated into a single package with large footprint, then installation requirements are reduced, but structural integrity is compromised due to cutting structure members
Solution Approach 1:
The radar altimeter is divided into multiple modular components: an LRU containing electronics and a separate antenna assembly. This segmentation allows the antenna to be mounted on the exterior skin without requiring large cutouts, while the LRU can be installed internally without compromising structural members.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna is positioned to extend outward from the aircraft skin in a direction perpendicular to the skin surface, utilizing the external dimension. This allows the radar functionality to be achieved without requiring large footprint on the skin, thus avoiding cutting structural members while maintaining structural integrity.
2Reliability
If radar altimeter structure extends significantly outward from aircraft exterior, then antenna functionality is improved, but aerodynamics are affected and weather exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna assembly is designed with selective exposure: only the essential antenna elements extend outward from the aircraft skin to perform radar functions, while the majority of the radar altimeter components (LRU with electronics) are positioned internally. This localized external positioning minimizes aerodynamic disruption and weather exposure while maintaining necessary antenna functionality.
3Ease of repair
If radar altimeter is designed in multiple pieces, then maintenance access is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar altimeter is segmented into two main serviceable units: an LRU (Line Replaceable Unit) containing the electronics and a separate antenna assembly. The LRU is designed as a self-contained module that can be easily removed and replaced by service personnel without requiring disassembly of the entire system, thus improving maintenance access while keeping the overall system complexity manageable.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Embodiments described herein are directed towards a radar altimeter for mounting onto an aircraft. The radar altimeter includes a base configured to mount to an external surface of an aircraft, the base having an inner portion and a flange disposed around the inner portion, wherein the inner portion has a generally rectangular geometry defining a long dimension and a short dimension. A chassis is mounted to the base and has a planar portion that is disposed perpendicular to a plane formed by the base. A plurality of circuit boards are mounted to the planar portion of the chassis and disposed parallel to the planar portion of the chassis. The base is configured to mount over a second aperture in the external surface of the aircraft such that the chassis and the plurality of circuit boards are placed through the aperture and are disposed inside of the aircraft.