Hybrid Interface Unit for Aircraft Fuel Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel sensor systems in aircraft require multiple communication technologies to accurately measure fuel parameters across various tanks, but they are often heavy, costly, and difficult to maintain, lacking a scalable and efficient communication architecture.
Innovation Solution
An integral fluid measurement system that employs a hybrid interface unit using multiple communication technologies such as electrical, fiber optic, RF, optical pulse, and sonic pulse to transmit data from sensors to a centralized instrumentation system, allowing for scalable configuration and easy installation or replacement of sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple communication technologies are used to transmit sensor data, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid interface unit is designed to support multiple communication technologies (electrical, fiber optic, RF, optical pulse, sonic pulse) within a single device, allowing it to perform multiple communication functions simultaneously. This enables the system to transmit sensor data through various media types while maintaining a unified interface architecture, thereby improving measurement reliability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid interface unit acts as an intermediary between the suite of fuel sensors and the centralized instrumentation system. It mediates the communication by receiving data from sensors through multiple communication technologies and converting/transmitting it through a standard serial data interface, thus simplifying the overall architecture while maintaining multiple communication pathways for enhanced precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a scalable sensor communication architecture is implemented, then adaptability and ease of maintenance are improved, but initial device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication architecture is designed to be dynamic and reconfigurable, allowing the hybrid interface unit to adapt to different sensor configurations and communication requirements. The system can dynamically select appropriate communication technologies based on the specific sensor being interfaced, enabling scalable deployment from simple to complex configurations without requiring a completely different architecture for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The system architecture is segmented into modular components: the hybrid interface unit, the suite of fuel sensors, and the centralized instrumentation system. This segmentation allows each component to be independently configured, installed, and maintained. The hybrid interface unit itself can be configured to support different numbers and types of sensors, providing scalability while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through modular design.
3Reliability
If hybrid interface unit with multiple communication technologies is used, then reliability of data transmission is improved, but weight and cost of sensor components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid interface unit merges multiple communication technology interfaces into a single device located at the tank wall. Instead of having separate interface devices for each communication technology, the system combines electrical, fiber optic, RF, optical pulse, and sonic pulse capabilities within one unified unit. This consolidation improves data transmission reliability through redundant pathways while minimizing the total weight and component count compared to having separate interface devices for each communication method.
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 solution minimizes the weight and cost of sensor components and installation time while enabling accurate fuel parameter monitoring across multiple aircraft fuel tanks, facilitating efficient maintenance and real-time data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
electrical communication technologies
Implementation Method 2
fiber optic communication technologies
Implementation Method 3
radio frequency (RF) communication technologies
Implementation Method 4
optical pulse communication technologies
Implementation Method 5
sonic pulse communication technologies
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An integral fluid measurement system includes a first sensor configured to communicate using a first communication technology, a second sensor configured to communicate using a second communication technology, and a hybrid interface unit including a first interface configured to communicate with a first sensor using a first communication technology and a second interface configured to communicate with a second sensor using a second communication technology, where the first and second communication technologies are different from each other and may include electrical, fiber optic, radio frequency, optical pulse, and sonic pulse. The hybrid interface unit may also include a digital signal processor, data bus, and power supply, and may be capable of being disposed on a fluid tank wall.