Aircraft Airspeed Sensor Error Detection via Multi-Source Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft airspeed sensors face accuracy issues due to conditions like ice accumulation, which can lead to inconsistent data, compromising aircraft control and performance.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising multiple sensor types such as pitot-static probes, angle of attack sensors, and light detection and ranging sensors, along with Venturi tubes, is used to generate and consolidate pressure values, allowing a signal consolidation system to detect errors and provide accurate airspeed data by combining data from different sensor types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensor types are used to measure airspeed, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airspeed measurement system is divided into multiple independent sensor types (pitot-static probes, angle of attack sensors, LIDAR sensors, Venturi tubes), each measuring airspeed through different physical principles. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high measurement precision while enabling error detection through cross-validation of independent measurement channels.
Solution Approach 2:
A signal consolidation system acts as an intermediary between the multiple sensor types and the final airspeed output. This intermediary component receives data from all sensor types, performs error detection and validation, and consolidates the measurements into a single reliable airspeed value, thereby managing system complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple sensor types are used to detect errors, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each sensor type is designed with specific local qualities suited to its measurement function - pitot-static probes for pressure-based measurement, angle of attack sensors for orientation-based calculation, LIDAR for optical velocity measurement, and Venturi tubes for flow-based measurement. This local quality optimization ensures each sensor type contributes uniquely to reliability while maintaining individual sensor simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal consolidation system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously comparing measurements from multiple sensor types and using this comparison to detect errors. When discrepancies are detected, the system can identify and exclude erroneous sensor data, thereby improving reliability through active error monitoring and correction.
3Measurement precision
If ice accumulation affects sensors, then measurement precision deteriorates, but no direct trade-off exists
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful effect of ice accumulation into a beneficial diagnostic opportunity. When ice affects certain sensors, the discrepancies between ice-affected and ice-free sensor readings provide valuable information for error detection. The signal consolidation system uses these discrepancies to identify and exclude compromised sensor data, thereby maintaining measurement precision despite the presence of ice.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures accurate airspeed measurement by identifying and correcting errors across various sensors, maintaining aircraft performance even when one type of sensor is affected by common mode events like ice accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
A pitot-static tube measures airspeed by identifying the total and static pressures in the environment surrounding the aircraft
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of light detection and ranging sensors generates a second total pressure value and a second static pressure value for the environment surrounding the aircraft
Data Source
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AI summary
The different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus and method for identifying an airspeed for an aircraft. In one advantageous embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus consists of a plurality of pitot-static probes. The plurality of pitot-static probes generate a first data. The apparatus also consists of a plurality of angle of attack sensor systems. The plurality of angle of attack sensor systems generate a second data. The apparatus also consists of a plurality of light detection and ranging sensors. The light detection and ranging sensors generates a third data. The apparatus also consists of a signal consolidation system configured to detect errors in the first data generated by the plurality of pitot-static probes, the second data generated by the plurality of angle of attack sensor systems, and the third data generated by the plurality of light detection and ranging sensors.