Evacuation Slide Readiness Indicator Light System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current readiness indicators for aircraft evacuation slides are difficult to see and understand, especially in high winds, and may not effectively convey whether the slide is fully deployed and safe for use.
Innovation Solution
A light system comprising multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) that change color based on the deployment and inflation status of the evacuation slide, with circuits and actuators ensuring visibility and reliability, including a readiness indicator light assembly and a non-indicator light assembly, and an alert system with a controller, optical sensor, and speaker to provide visual and audio alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional readiness indicators are used that inflate during slide deployment, then the indicator is visible, but it becomes difficult to see and understand in high winds and may be ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical inflatable readiness indicator with an electronic light-based system. The light system includes LEDs that can be illuminated to indicate readiness status, eliminating the mechanical inflation mechanism that proved ineffective in high wind conditions. This substitution provides a more reliable and visible indicator that is not affected by wind.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color-changing LEDs to convey different readiness states. The system uses different colors (e.g., green for ready, red for not ready) to provide intuitive visual information to passengers. This color-coding system enhances understandability and visibility compared to the previous mechanical indicator.
2Reliability
If multiple circuits and actuators are added to track deployment status, then the reliability of readiness indication improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a unified light system. The system combines readiness indication, deployment status monitoring, and inflation status detection into a single integrated LED-based system controlled by a microcontroller. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate mechanical indicators for each status.
Solution Approach 2:
The light system serves multiple functions: indicating initial deployment status, monitoring inflation progress, and providing final readiness confirmation. The same LED array and control circuitry handle all these functions, making the system multi-functional and reducing the need for separate indicator mechanisms for each status.
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 light system provides clear visual and audio alerts indicating the slide's deployment and inflation status, enhancing safety and visibility regardless of wind conditions without adding weight or complexity to the evacuation assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode. The first light emitting diode may emit a first color and the second light emitting diode may emit a second color
Data Source
AI summary
A light system for an evacuation slide may include a readiness indicator light assembly. The readiness indicator light assembly may comprise a first light emitting diode configured to emit a first color and a second light emitting diode configured to emit a second color. The light system may be configured to power the first light emitting diode after initial deployment of the evacuation slide and to power the second light emitting diode after the internal pressure of the evacuation slide is greater than a minimum pressure threshold.