Aircraft Windshear Detection Using Airspeed and Angle of Attack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing windshear detection systems for aircraft require sophisticated avionics and are costly, making them unsuitable for general aviation, and often generate false warnings due to the need for complex sensors and processing.
Innovation Solution
A windshear detection and warning system that uses only an airspeed indicator, an angle of attack indicator, and a processor to compare changes in airspeed and angle of attack, with a threshold value and time delay to filter out non-hazardous fluctuations, providing a simple and cost-effective solution for general aviation aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sophisticated avionics including accelerometers and inertial reference systems are used for windshear detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for complex accelerometers and inertial reference systems from the windshear detection system. Instead, it uses only standard airspeed indicators and angle of attack indicators that are already present on most aircraft, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining detection capability through a different computational approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the windshear detection system universal by using standard aviation instruments (airspeed indicator and angle of attack indicator) that are already installed on most aircraft for other purposes. This multi-functionality approach allows the same instruments to serve both their traditional functions and windshear detection, eliminating the need for dedicated complex sensors
2Reliability
If complex sensors and processing systems are used for windshear detection, then detection capability is improved, but false warnings increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors the relationship between airspeed changes and angle of attack changes. By comparing actual measurements against expected aerodynamic relationships and using threshold-based decision logic with time delay filtering, the system provides feedback to distinguish true windshear events from normal flight variations, thereby reducing false warnings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing predetermined threshold values and time delay parameters before operation. These pre-set criteria filter out normal flight variations and wind gusts that would otherwise trigger false alarms, allowing the system to respond only to significant windshear events that exceed the predetermined thresholds
3Measurement precision
If sophisticated windshear detection systems are installed, then detection accuracy is improved, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the aircraft's existing instruments to serve the dual purpose of normal flight indication and windshear detection. The standard airspeed indicator and angle of attack indicator already installed on the aircraft perform their primary functions while also providing the data needed for windshear detection, eliminating the need for separate expensive sensor packages and reducing installation costs
Data Source
AI summary
An airborne windshear detection and warning system includes a pitot tube for detecting the airspeed of an aircraft and an angle of attack vane for detecting an aircraft's angle of attack. Signals are generated and fed to a signal processor for determining a relationship between the airspeed and the aircraft's angle of attack. A signal indicative of the aircraft's normal relationship plus or minus a preselected value is also input into the signal processor. Then when the actual relationship exceeds the normal value plus or minus the preselected value for a preselected period of time, a signal is generated by the signal processor and is an indication of a hazardous windshear. A warning is then given to the pilot to take immediate corrective action.