Aircraft Sensor Testing Device for Autonomous Flight Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ensuring the accuracy of flight-relevant data from sensor devices on autonomous aircraft to prevent potential catastrophic failures, such as incorrect flight trajectories or obstacle detection, is a challenge in non-pilot assisted autonomous flight systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for testing the navigation and safety system of an aircraft, which involves positioning the aircraft relative to a test object, determining properties using sensors, comparing sensor signals with reference signals, and triggering maintenance routines based on discrepancies, utilizing multiple sensor types and an automated sensor suite check after landing to ensure data reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor devices are installed on autonomous aircraft to gather flight data, then navigation and safety capabilities are improved, but the risk of catastrophic failures increases if sensor data becomes incorrect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary sensor testing by positioning the aircraft relative to a test object and comparing sensor signals with reference signals before actual flight operations. This preliminary verification ensures sensor accuracy is confirmed in advance, preventing catastrophic failures during autonomous navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where sensor signals are continuously compared with known reference signals, and maintenance routines are triggered based on comparison results. This closed-loop feedback system ensures sensor accuracy is maintained and deviations are corrected promptly.
2Reliability
If automated sensor testing is implemented to verify sensor accuracy, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and testing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal test object that can be used for testing multiple different sensor types (optical, acoustic, electromagnetic sensors) with a single setup. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive sensor verification capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses reference signals that represent ideal or known correct sensor outputs. By comparing actual sensor signals against these reference copies, the system can verify accuracy without requiring complex analysis of every possible sensor output scenario.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive sensor testing is performed after each landing, then sensor accuracy is ensured, but loss of time for maintenance operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs sensor testing selectively based on comparison results rather than always executing full maintenance routines. If sensor signals match reference signals within acceptable tolerances, minimal or no maintenance time is required. Only when deviations exceed thresholds are comprehensive maintenance actions triggered.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated testing system performs self-verification by automatically comparing sensor outputs with reference signals and triggering appropriate maintenance routines without requiring extensive manual intervention. This reduces the time loss associated with human-operated testing and maintenance procedures.
Data Source
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AI summary
We propose a method of testing a navigation and safety system of an aircraft (2), preferably an autonomously navigating VTOL aircraft, which navigation and safety system comprises at least one sensor device, which sensor device has at least one sensor (3, 3') of a sensor type mounted in or on the aircraft (2), wherein a check routine is performed during which: a) the aircraft (2) is positioned relative to a test object (4) at a relative position, or vice versa; b) at least one property of the test object (4) is determined by means of the sensor (3, 3') and a corresponding sensor signal (S1), in particular a sensor signal (S1) which is dependent on the relative position, is generated; c) the sensor signal (S1) is compared with a known reference signal (RS) and a corresponding comparison signal (CS) is generated; and d) a maintenance routine for the sensor (3, 3') is triggered as a function of a property of the comparison signal (CS). We further propose a testing device (1) adapted to perform said method.