Drone Sensor With Dual Lasers for Two-Gas Atmospheric Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drones have limited range and payload, making them unsuitable for measuring diffuse and short-lived greenhouse gas emissions, which are difficult to quantify due to their unchanneled and often inaccessible nature, and aircraft measurements are costly and restricted.
Innovation Solution
A drone equipped with a sensor capable of measuring two gases using a single measurement cell with two laser sources and a common detector, allowing sequential laser beam injections and a compact design for extended range and payload, including a control system for selective laser activation and data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a drone is used to measure greenhouse gas emissions, then the operating cost is reduced and access to inaccessible areas is improved, but the range is limited and the payload capacity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser sources (first laser source for first gas, second laser source for second gas) into a single measurement system with a common detector. This merging approach reduces the overall payload weight and complexity while maintaining the capability to measure multiple gases simultaneously, thereby extending the effective range of the drone without compromising measurement functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system is designed with multi-functionality by using a common detector that can detect signals from multiple laser sources targeting different gases. This universal detector design allows the drone to perform multiple measurement functions (detecting different greenhouse gases) with a single integrated system, optimizing payload usage and extending operational range.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are added to the drone to measure multiple gases, then the measurement capacity is improved, but the payload weight increases and range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measurement functions into a single integrated sensor system. Instead of using separate sensors for each gas, the system combines multiple laser sources and a common detector into one unified measurement cell assembly. This merging reduces the total payload weight while maintaining the ability to measure multiple gases, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement capacity and payload weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The common detector serves multiple functions by detecting absorption signals from different laser wavelengths corresponding to different gases. This multi-functional design allows a single detector to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate detectors, thereby reducing payload weight while enhancing measurement versatility.
3Device complexity
If sequential laser beam injections are used, then the device complexity is reduced and payload is minimized, but the measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by sequentially activating different laser sources in alternating time intervals. The first laser source is activated to measure the first gas, then the second laser source is activated to measure the second gas. This periodic sequential measurement approach simplifies the device design by using a common detector for both measurements while maintaining efficient data collection through time-multiplexed operation.
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
The drone achieves precise and reliable measurements of multiple gases with reduced weight and cost, enabling efficient data collection in challenging environments by minimizing interference and optimizing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a first laser source able to inject, into the measurement cell, a first laser beam at a first wavelength characteristic of a first gas to be detected
Implementation Method 2
a second laser source able to inject, into the measurement cell, a second laser beam at a second wavelength characteristic of a second gas to be detected
Implementation Method 3
a detector common to the two laser sources, said detector being able to detect a first measurement signal originating from the measurement cell and resulting from injection of the first laser beam into the measurement cell
Data Source
AI summary
This drone comprises a sensor for measuring representative data, comprising at least one measurement cell that is open to the atmosphere, at least a first laser source configured to inject, into the measurement cell, a first laser beam at a first wavelength characteristic of a first gas to be detected and a second laser source configured to inject, into the measurement cell, a second laser beam at a second wavelength characteristic of a second gas to be detected. The measuring sensor comprises a detector common to the two laser sources, said detector being configured to detect a first measurement signal originating from the measurement cell and resulting from injection of the first laser beam into the measurement cell and a second measurement signal originating from the measurement cell and resulting from injection of the second laser beam into the measurement cell.