FADS Pressure Sensing Fault Isolation via Segmented Transducers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fault detection and isolation methods in pressure sensing systems of space vehicles are complex, computationally expensive, and difficult to implement, especially in identifying blockages in pressure ports and failures in pressure transducers, which can lead to inaccurate air data parameters and potential vehicle control issues.
Innovation Solution
A system with three pressure transducers connected to each pressure port, each powered by separate units, and a processing unit that performs multiple levels of fault checking based on voltage inputs to distinguish between port blockages and transducer failures, using cross comparison and structured sets of angle and sideslip estimates to enhance accuracy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fault detection and isolation methods using artificial intelligence algorithms like neural networks are used, then fault identification capability is improved, but device complexity and computational cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pressure sensing system into multiple independent pressure ports (at least three), each with its own pressure transducer and power supply unit. This segmentation allows individual fault isolation at the port level without requiring complex AI algorithms, as faults can be identified by comparing readings from different segmented ports.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pressure port is equipped with dedicated local components including its own power supply unit and pressure transducer. This local quality ensures that faults are contained to specific ports rather than affecting the entire system, enabling simpler local fault detection through cross-comparison of local readings.
2Device complexity
If single or two pressure transducers are connected to one pressure port, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to isolate port blockages from transducer failures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a configuration where at least three pressure ports each have dedicated pressure transducers and power supply units. This local quality assignment creates independent measurement channels that can be individually monitored and compared, enabling clear distinction between port blockages and transducer failures without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors pressure readings from multiple ports and compares them against expected values and each other. This feedback mechanism enables real-time fault detection and isolation by identifying inconsistencies in the pressure data, allowing the system to distinguish between port blockages and transducer failures.
3Device complexity
If a single power supply is used for multiple pressure transducers, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates when power supply failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into multiple independent power supply units, with each unit dedicated to powering a specific pressure transducer. This segmentation ensures that a power failure in one unit does not affect other pressure measurements, maintaining system reliability while keeping each power supply unit relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pressure transducer is equipped with its own dedicated power supply unit, creating local power independence. This local quality ensures that power failures are isolated to specific ports rather than affecting the entire pressure sensing system, thereby improving reliability without requiring a complex centralized power management system.
4Reliability
If inverse models and neural networks are used for fault detection, then fault detection capability is improved, but computational load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fault detection function from complex AI algorithms and implements it through simpler comparison-based logic. By taking out the need for inverse models and neural networks, the system achieves fault detection through direct comparison of pressure readings from multiple ports, significantly reducing computational load while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses continuous feedback from multiple pressure ports with predefined combinations to detect faults. This feedback mechanism compares actual pressure readings against expected values and cross-compares different port readings in real-time, enabling efficient fault detection without requiring computationally expensive inverse models or neural network processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for detecting and isolating faults in pressure ports (2) and pressure transducers (3) of a pressure sensing system are disclosed. The system comprises a set of pressure ports (2) flushed to a nose cap (1) of a space vehicle in crucifix form. Three pressure transducers (3) are connected to each pressure port (2) through pneumatic tubes (4) for measuring surface pressure from the pressure ports (2). Separate power supplying units (7, 8, 9) are connected to the three pressure transducers (3) for powering the pressure transducers (3) at each pressure port (2). A processing unit (10) is configured to acquire voltage inputs corresponding to the measured surface pressure from the pressure transducers (3). The processing unit (10) executes one or more levels of fault checking to detect and isolate pressure transducer failures and blockage of the pressure ports (2) based on the voltage inputs. Hence, it is possible to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the pressure estimation of the FADS. cushion pressure.