Flight Management System Backup Airspeed Computation

The patent creates a computational model that replicates the function of pitot static sensors by calculating airspeed and Mach number from alternative parameters (thrust, altitude, temperature, angle of attack) stored in database 140. This computational copy provides redundant measurement capability that can replace failed physical sensors, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving measurement precision through mathematical relationships.

The invention transforms the measurement approach by changing from direct physical measurement (pitot tube pressure differential) to indirect computational derivation using different parameters (thrust setting, altitude, ambient temperature, angle of attack). The flight management computer 120 uses these alternative parameters to calculate equivalent airspeed and Mach number values, providing a reliable alternative when primary sensors fail.

The flight management computer 120 is designed to perform multiple functions: it manages flight operations, processes navigation data, and now also computes airspeed and Mach number as a universal backup function. By integrating this computational capability into an existing multi-functional system rather than adding dedicated redundant hardware, the patent achieves reliability improvement without proportionally increasing system complexity.

The system uses its own existing sensors and stored database information to self-generate backup airspeed data. The flight management computer 120 leverages data already being collected for other flight management purposes (altitude from barometric sensors, temperature from environmental sensors, angle of attack from flight controls) to independently compute airspeed parameters, making the system self-sufficient for redundancy without requiring additional dedicated sensors.