Aircraft Weight Determination Using Sensor Data Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current airline operations rely on assumptions for determining aircraft weight and center of gravity, which can lead to inaccuracies, resulting in potential departure delays and safety risks due to the lack of real-time, accurate measurement of passenger and baggage weights, especially in open-seating policies, where weight distribution is uncertain.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that periodically measures and records aircraft weight and center of gravity using sensors and data analysis to verify compliance with regulatory limits, allowing for increased weight limitations and reduced operational restrictions, while also accounting for statistical errors in existing weight assumptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If airlines use assumed weights for load planning to maintain strict departure schedules, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates leading to potential weight and CG inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeparture schedule efficiencyVSAvoidaircraft weight and CG accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary weighing of the aircraft at the beginning of each day to establish baseline weight and CG. This preliminary measurement allows airlines to use assumed weights for rapid load planning throughout the day while maintaining accuracy, as the baseline data compensates for the assumptions used in real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of physically weighing the aircraft before every flight with an electronic computing system. This system uses onboard sensors, databases of assumed weights, and computer algorithms to calculate real-time weight and CG, dramatically improving productivity while maintaining measurement precision through mathematical compensation methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If airlines implement real-time weight measurement systems to improve measurement precision, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaircraft weight and CG accuracyVSAvoidweight determination system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system utilizes the aircraft's existing onboard computers and sensor infrastructure for weight determination, rather than requiring dedicated specialized equipment. The same computing resources used for flight management are also employed for weight and CG calculations, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The weight determination system is fully integrated into the aircraft's existing operational systems. The onboard computer automatically performs weight calculations using sensor data and database information without requiring external intervention or complex additional equipment, allowing the system to serve itself using resources already available on the aircraft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If airlines use open-seating policies to improve ease of operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to uncertain weight distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger boarding flexibilityVSAvoidweight distribution accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors and calculates actual weight distribution as passengers board the aircraft in open-seating configuration. By comparing real-time sensor data with the planned load, the system provides feedback that allows load planners to make adjustments and ensures the aircraft remains within safe CG limits, maintaining reliability despite the flexibility of open seating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The weight determination system is designed to dynamically adapt to the unpredictable nature of open-seating weight distribution. Rather than relying on static assumptions, the system continuously updates weight and CG calculations as passengers board, allowing the aircraft loading to be optimized in real-time for the actual weight distribution that occurs with open seating policies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20220358517A1Method to recover non-recognized errors in aircraft weight determinations to increase weight and center of gravity limitations for regulated aircraft

Publication Date: 2022.11.10 NANCE C KIRK

AI summary

The method obtaining a change to approved weight limits of a regulated aircraft type comprises the steps of determining a difference between a first maximum takeoff weight limit and a second maximum takeoff weight limit and, using the difference between the first maximum takeoff weight limit and the second maximum takeoff weight limit, identifying the second maximum takeoff weight difference as a percentage of the first maximum weight limit. In other embodiments, a second maximum landing weight limit, a second maximum takeoff weight limit, a second zero-fuel weight limit, and a second maximum ramp weight limit, are each identified as a percentage of the first maximum takeoff weight limit.