Aircraft Sensor Gateway Wireless Mode Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current air cargo tracking systems fail to transmit data during flight, limiting real-time monitoring and intelligent tracking capabilities, which is crucial for managing supply chains and preventing cargo damage.

Innovation Solution

A gateway device and sensor network arrangement that communicates with the aircraft interface to control wireless communication modes based on flight status, disabling long-range transmissions during takeoff and landing and allowing short-range transmissions during climb, cruise, or descent, using IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.1, and ISM/SRD band communication, with nodes equipped for ambient variable, movement, and orientation detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If data transmission during flight is enabled, then real-time monitoring capability is improved, but interference with aircraft systems and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time cargo monitoring capabilityVSAvoidinterference with aircraft systems

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts wireless communication modes based on flight status. During takeoff and landing phases, long-range wireless transmission is disabled while short-range transmission continues. During cruise phase, both short-range and long-range transmissions are enabled. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing real-time monitoring only when safe to do so.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes communication parameters (transmission range, power level) according to flight conditions. By switching between different transmission modes (short-range only during takeoff/landing, both short and long-range during cruise), the system optimizes monitoring capability while minimizing interference with aircraft systems at each flight stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If wireless transmission is disabled during takeoff and landing, then safety and interference risks are reduced, but real-time monitoring capability is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference with aircraft systemsVSAvoidcargo monitoring data

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system is segmented into short-range and long-range transmission components. During takeoff and landing, only short-range transmission is disabled, allowing local monitoring to continue while preventing long-range transmissions that could interfere with aircraft systems. This segmentation allows partial monitoring to maintain during critical phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system periodically switches between different transmission modes based on flight phase detection. During cruise phase, both short and long-range transmissions operate. During takeoff and landing, the system transitions to short-range only mode. This periodic switching ensures monitoring continuity while managing interference risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If flight status-based control is implemented, then safety and data integrity are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrity during transmissionVSAvoidgateway device control logic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway device acts as an intermediary between sensor nodes and the external network. It receives flight status information from the aircraft system, processes this information to determine appropriate transmission modes, and then controls the sensor nodes accordingly. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system by centralizing the control logic in the gateway rather than requiring complex logic in each sensor node.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20210175996A1Aircraft tracking sensor arrangement, and a device and method thereof

Publication Date: 2021.06.10 CONTROLMATIC

AI summary

A gateway device for a sensor network comprising: communication means to communicate with an aircraft interface device or other communication means provided by aircraft, short-range wireless communication means for communicating with nodes via short range communication means, characterized in that the gateway device is arranged to receive flight status information from the aircraft interface device and to facilitate control of nodes in accordance with the flight status, such as that the gateway sends the nodes a command to disable all wireless transmission when the aircraft status is take off or landing, and a command to utilize only short-range wireless transmission means when the aircraft status is climb, cruise or descent. Corresponding arrangement and method are also presented.