Aircraft Antenna Turbulence Detection via Sensor Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-flight entertainment and communication systems lack effective methods to detect turbulence, which can impact aircraft safety and route planning.
Innovation Solution
The system collects data from sensors such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, and pressure sensors to detect changes in aircraft position and identify turbulence, transmitting a turbulence profile to a ground-based computing system for route modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the antenna system sensors are used for collecting aircraft position data to keep the antenna directed towards a satellite, then the antenna positioning accuracy is improved, but the system cannot detect turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the antenna system's sensors to serve dual purposes: maintaining antenna positioning accuracy while simultaneously detecting turbulence. The existing sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, pressure sensors) are repurposed to collect both satellite tracking data and turbulence signature data, eliminating the need for separate dedicated turbulence sensors.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated turbulence detection systems are added to aircraft, then turbulence detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for dedicated turbulence detection hardware by making the existing antenna system sensors multi-functional. The same sensors that track satellite position are used to detect turbulence through pattern recognition algorithms that analyze changes in the sensor data over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing sensor infrastructure to provide turbulence detection services without requiring external or additional specialized equipment. The antenna system's operational data is repurposed to serve the additional function of turbulence detection.
3Speed
If real-time turbulence detection is implemented using existing sensors, then response time is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring turbulence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes turbulence signatures and patterns that characterize different turbulence conditions. By having these reference patterns predetermined, the system can quickly compare real-time sensor data against known turbulence profiles, enabling fast detection without complex real-time analysis of raw sensor signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor data and provides feedback by comparing current readings against established turbulence signatures. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection by identifying deviations from normal flight patterns that match known turbulence profiles.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for detecting turbulence are provided. One method includes collecting data by a plurality of sensors of an antenna system of an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system of an aircraft, the plurality of sensors collecting aircraft rotation data, aircraft acceleration data, data indicating change in magnetic flux, and data indicating atmospheric pressure and temperature; detecting a change in position of the aircraft by a computing device of the IFE system based on the collected data; identifying turbulence by the computing device based on the detected change in position matching a signature indicative of turbulence; transmitting at least one data packet with a turbulence profile by the computing device to a ground based computing system, the turbulence profile including data from the plurality of sensors used for identifying turbulence; and using the turbulence profile by the ground-based computing system for modifying a route of another aircraft.