Aircraft Dynamic Rollover Detection and Alerting System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rotary-wing aircraft are susceptible to dynamic rollover, a lateral rolling tendency that can occur during landing, takeoff, or on inclined surfaces, posing a risk to aircraft stability and safety due to inadequate warning systems.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic rollover detection and alerting system that utilizes onboard computing devices to monitor aircraft parameters such as terrain slope, weight, and sensor data to identify potential rollover conditions and provide alerts to the flight crew through graphical displays, indicating corrective actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional warning systems are used in rotary-wing aircraft, then the system complexity is low, but the ability to detect and alert dynamic rollover conditions is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic rollover detection capabilityVSAvoidwarning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The warning system is segmented into multiple independent functional modules: terrain slope detection module, aircraft attitude monitoring module, dynamic rollover condition determination module, and alert presentation module. Each module performs a specific function, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive dynamic rollover detection through coordinated operation of simpler sub-systems, thus improving reliability without excessive complexity increase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system integrates multiple functions into a unified warning system that can detect various rollover conditions (lateral, longitudinal, dynamic) using the same sensor suite and processing architecture. The terrain slope detection and aircraft attitude monitoring serve multiple purposes including rollover detection, general stability monitoring, and pilot advisory, achieving multi-functionality that improves reliability across different operational scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of time

If no real-time monitoring system is implemented, then the device complexity is low, but the response time to prevent rollover is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse time for rollover preventionVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors terrain slope and aircraft attitude parameters in advance to determine potential dynamic rollover conditions before they develop into critical situations. By calculating rollover risk based on real-time sensor data and comparing against predetermined criteria, the system provides early warning alerts that enable pilots to take corrective action proactively, significantly reducing response time and preventing rollover events

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring aircraft parameters (roll rate, pitch rate, altitude rate) and terrain slope, comparing them against dynamic rollover criteria, and providing real-time alerts to the pilot. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables timely detection of developing rollover conditions and immediate pilot intervention, reducing the time loss between condition onset and corrective action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3360797B1Methods and systems to detect and alert a dynamic rollover condition for an aircraft
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3360797B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3360797B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3360797B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for providing data associated with rollover of an aircraft is provided. The method detects a potential dynamic rollover condition for the aircraft based on at least one of a current rotor thrust, a slope of terrain surrounding the aircraft, a state of ground contact components, and a position of a lateral center of gravity, by at least one processor onboard the aircraft, wherein the potential dynamic rollover condition indicates imminent rollover of the aircraft occurring within a predetermined period of time; and presents an alert associated with the potential dynamic rollover condition via an aircraft onboard display communicatively coupled to the at least one processor.