Aircraft Landing Gear Steering Angle Determination via Edge Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the steering angle of an aircraft landing gear lack efficiency and accuracy, particularly during taxiing, as they require physical interaction or multiple sensors, which can be cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing edge detection on images captured by an imaging device to determine the steering angle of the aircraft landing gear, which involves preprocessing the images to remove background noise, applying masks to focus on regions of interest, and using Hough transforms to calculate the steering angle, allowing for non-intrusive and efficient monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical interaction or multiple sensors are used to determine steering angle, then measurement reliability may be improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an imaging device to capture optical copies (images) of the landing gear and its components. Instead of physically interacting with the landing gear or using multiple physical sensors, the system creates a visual replica through imaging and processes this copy to determine steering angle. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement reliability through accurate visual representation while eliminating the need for complex physical sensor arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sensing systems with an optical-based image processing system. Instead of using physical sensors that require mechanical interaction with the landing gear, the system uses imaging devices and computer vision algorithms to detect edges and determine component positions. This substitution eliminates mechanical complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If physical interaction or multiple sensors are used to determine steering angle, then measurement precision may be improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device captures images that automatically contain the necessary information for steering angle determination. The edge detection algorithm automatically identifies component edges and positions without requiring manual intervention or complex sensor setup. The system serves itself by using the same imaging device for both capture and analysis, eliminating the need for separate sensing systems and simplifying operation.
Solution Approach 2:
By creating and processing optical copies of the landing gear through imaging, the system achieves precise measurement of steering angle without physical contact. The image processing faithfully reproduces the geometric relationships needed for accurate angle calculation, maintaining measurement precision while greatly simplifying the operational procedure.
3Ease of operation
If image processing with edge detection is used, then ease of operation improves, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies edge detection to segment the landing gear components from the background and from each other. By identifying edges of specific components (such as the torque link and strut), the system isolates the geometric features needed for steering angle calculation. This segmentation maintains precision by clearly defining component boundaries while keeping the operation simple through automated image processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances image contrast and applies processing that emphasizes edges and boundaries of landing gear components. By manipulating the visual properties of the image (such as edge enhancement and contrast adjustment), the system ensures that critical geometric features are clearly distinguishable, maintaining measurement precision while enabling simple automated processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method of determining a steering angle of an aircraft landing gear. The method comprises: obtaining an image of the aircraft landing gear; performing edge detection on the image; determining, based at least in part on an edge obtained by the edge detection, a relative position of a component of the aircraft landing gear; and determining, based at least in part on the relative position of the component, the steering angle of the aircraft landing gear.