Aircraft Self-Testing for In-Flight Airworthiness and Auto Landing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inexperienced pilots operating ultralight aircraft face challenges in conducting preflight checks due to the unique weight restrictions and safety requirements of these aircraft, necessitating an automated self-testing system to ensure airworthiness without additional equipment.
Innovation Solution
An automated self-testing process using existing aircraft equipment, such as rotor thrust analysis, to determine flight-time variables like payload-inclusive weight and center of gravity, which allows for autonomous takeoff and landing decisions based on airworthiness thresholds, ensuring safe flight conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional preflight checks are performed by inexperienced pilots, then basic safety checks can be conducted, but the pilots lack the knowledge to identify critical issues specific to ultralight aircraft weight restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft system performs self-testing of its own components and calculates its own weight and center of gravity using onboard sensors and processors, eliminating the need for external testing equipment and expert intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors flight parameters and compares them against safe operating thresholds, providing real-time feedback to the pilot about aircraft status and automatically responding to out-of-range conditions
2Device complexity
If automated self-testing is implemented using existing equipment, then airworthiness can be determined without additional components, but the system must accurately measure flight-time variables like payload-inclusive weight and center of gravity
Solution Approach 1:
Existing aircraft equipment is designed to serve multiple functions - sensors originally intended for basic flight monitoring are also used for weight determination, center of gravity calculation, and airworthiness assessment
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical weighing systems and physical center of gravity measurement devices are replaced with electronic sensor arrays and computational algorithms that calculate these parameters from flight data
3Reliability
If the system automatically responds to out-of-range conditions, then unsafe flight conditions are prevented, but the pilot's autonomy and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes safe operating thresholds for weight, center of gravity, and other critical parameters, and automatically prevents operation outside these thresholds before unsafe conditions can develop
Solution Approach 2:
The system adapts its response based on the specific condition detected, offering graduated levels of intervention from warnings to automatic shutdown, and can dynamically adjust operating thresholds based on environmental conditions and aircraft configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A flight-time variable associated with an aircraft is determined including by determining the flight-time variable while the aircraft is flying. It is determined whether the aircraft is airworthy based at least in part on the flight-time variable. In response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy, the aircraft is automatically landed.