Aircraft Wind Estimation Device Correcting Apparent Wind Errors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind estimation methods on aircrafts are inaccurate during rotational flights due to the use of speed measurements from different points on the aircraft, leading to errors in calculating wind characteristics, and are limited to two-dimensional horizontal plane estimations.
Innovation Solution
A method that receives speed information from both the aircraft's terrestrial reference system and airspeed measurements at different points, incorporating a corrective term for apparent wind during rotational flights, allowing for three-dimensional wind vector calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wind estimation is performed using speed measurements from different points on the aircraft (ground speed at centre and air speed at front tip), then the estimation can be performed during rotational flights, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to apparent wind errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the measurement parameters by expressing both ground speed and air speed in the same reference point (the centre of the aircraft) through mathematical coordinate transformation. This parameter change eliminates the apparent wind error caused by using measurements from different spatial locations, thereby maintaining measurement precision while enabling rotational flight estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational step that transforms the air speed measurement from the front tip location to the centre location using the aircraft's rotational parameters. This intermediary transformation acts as a mediator that reconciles the spatial discrepancy between measurement points, allowing accurate wind estimation during rotational flights.
2Ease of manufacture
If wind estimation is performed in two dimensions (horizontal plane only), then the calculation is simpler, but the adaptability is limited and cannot estimate vertical wind components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the wind estimation from two-dimensional (horizontal plane) to three-dimensional space by incorporating the vertical component of air speed and applying the same spatial transformation principle in all three dimensions. This dimensional extension maintains calculation systematicity while enabling comprehensive wind vector estimation including vertical components during rotational flights.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for estimating on an aircraft at least one wind characteristic.The device (1) comprises means (7) for determining a corrective term being representative of an apparent wind created upon a rotation of the aircraft and means (4) for determining the wind characteristic taking into account such a corrective term.