Integrated Aircraft Angle of Attack and Sideslip Indicator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Fixed-wing aircraft face challenges in detecting and preventing stall and spin conditions, particularly at low altitudes, due to limitations in existing angle of attack and sideslip angle monitoring systems, which can lead to loss of control and crashes.

Innovation Solution

An integrated display system that visually indicates the aircraft's angle of attack and sideslip angle using signals from angle of attack and sideslip sensors, providing intuitive feedback to pilots by changing its appearance to indicate corrective actions, such as rudder adjustments, to maintain safe flight conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional angle of attack indicators are used, then pilots can avoid stall, but pilots lack awareness of sideslip angle which can cause spin conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestall avoidanceVSAvoidsideslip angle awareness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the angle of attack indicator and sideslip angle indicator into a single integrated display system. The AoA vane and sideslip vane are merged into one assembly with a common pivot axis, and their indications are displayed together on a single panel with unified lighting and housing, providing comprehensive flight parameter monitoring in one location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated indicator serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays both angle of attack information and sideslip angle information, provides stall warnings, provides spin warnings, and offers comprehensive flight parameter monitoring. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate indicators for each parameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If separate angle of attack and sideslip indicators are used, then comprehensive flight information is provided, but device complexity and pilot workload increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight parameter monitoringVSAvoidnumber of indicators

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple indicator functions into a single integrated display unit. The physical vanes (AoA vane and sideslip vane) are combined into one assembly, and their indications are presented on a single panel with shared lighting and housing, reducing the number of separate devices while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single integrated indicator performs multiple functions: displaying AoA, displaying sideslip angle, providing stall warnings, and providing spin warnings. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate indicators into one device, reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If vane sensors are used for angle of attack measurement, then accurate AoA detection is achieved, but the system lacks sideslip angle detection capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle of attack measurementVSAvoidsideslip angle data

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the AoA vane sensor and sideslip vane sensor into a single integrated vane assembly. Both vanes share a common pivot axis and housing, allowing simultaneous measurement of both angle of attack and sideslip angle using the same sensor technology and mounting structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system extends measurement from a single dimension (AoA only) to multiple dimensions by adding sideslip angle measurement. The integrated vane assembly measures both the pitch dimension (AoA) and yaw dimension (sideslip) simultaneously, providing comprehensive three-dimensional flight parameter monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enhances pilot awareness of critical flight parameters, enabling timely adjustments to prevent stalls and spins, thereby improving safety and maintaining optimal climb and control capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

The vane rotates to orient itself parallel to the direction of oncoming airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic alignment:

Implementation Method 2

differential pressure sensors use air pressure measurements to determine angle of attack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDifferential pressure measurement:

Data Source

PatentUS11577853B2Aircraft angle of attack and sideslip angle indicator

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 FISHER WILLIAM M

AI summary

An aircraft angle of attack and sideslip angle indicator includes a display responsive to angle of attack and sideslip angle measurements from an angle of attack sensor and a sideslip angle sensor on an aircraft. The display depicts angle of attack along a first (preferably vertical) axis, and sideslip angle along a second (preferably horizontal) axis, with the axes intersecting at a display datum which represents acceptable angle of attack and sideslip angle values from the aircraft. The display depicts the aircraft's current angle of attack and sideslip angle with respect to the display datum, thereby indicating to the pilot whether non-optimal (and perhaps dangerous) flight conditions are occurring.