Laser Air Data Sensor Mounting for Eye Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser-based air data sensors pose eye safety concerns due to the potential for optical energies exceeding permissible exposure levels, particularly in implementations using molecular backscatter, necessitating configurations and operations that address these risks for certification and safe use on aircraft and vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The laser air data sensor is mounted and operated with a laser transceiver configured to transmit laser light beams either parallel to the vehicle's vertical axis or towards a backstop, and equipped with processing devices to attenuate the beams based on vehicle operating parameters, ensuring reduced exposure to hazardous optical energies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser light beams are transmitted with high intensity for long-distance sensing, then measurement capability is improved, but eye safety is compromised due to optical energies exceeding permissible exposure levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the laser beam transmission characteristics adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adapts the laser operation mode (continuous wave vs. pulsed), beam intensity, and transmission timing based on real-time detection of nearby objects and their distance. This allows the system to optimize measurement capability while maintaining eye safety by reducing intensity when objects are close and using higher intensity only when objects are sufficiently distant.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying key laser operating parameters including intensity, pulse duration, repetition rate, and wavelength based on the distance to detected objects. The system transitions between different operational states (safe mode with lower intensity for close objects, enhanced mode with higher intensity for distant objects) to balance measurement precision requirements with eye safety constraints imposed by maximum permissible exposure levels.
2Measurement precision
If laser beams are transmitted continuously for accurate air data measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but eye exposure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by transitioning from continuous laser transmission to pulsed transmission. The laser emits beams in periodic pulses rather than continuously, with the pulse repetition rate, duration, and timing dynamically adjusted based on the distance to detected objects. This periodic operation reduces the cumulative exposure duration to well below the 100 microseconds threshold for eye damage while maintaining measurement accuracy through sufficient sampling rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements skipping by using brief, intense pulsed transmissions rather than continuous exposure. Each laser pulse is a short-duration event that rapidly completes the measurement task and then ceases, minimizing the time during which hazardous optical energy is present. This approach rushes through the measurement process quickly, reducing overall exposure duration while maintaining measurement capability.
3Length of moving object
If high power laser beams are used for long-range detection, then detection range is extended, but safety zones for ground personnel and other aircraft are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the laser power and operational mode adaptive rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors the environment using the sensor and adjusts the laser transmission parameters in real-time based on detected objects and their distances. When no objects are detected or objects are beyond a safe distance threshold, the system can operate at higher power for extended detection range. When objects approach within safety zones, the system automatically reduces power or shuts down, dynamically eliminating safety zone restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the air data sensor to detect objects and their distances, then feeding this information back to control the laser transmission. The sensor continuously monitors the environment and provides feedback signals that trigger adjustments in laser power, pulse timing, and transmission mode. This closed-loop feedback system ensures the laser operates at optimal power for detection range while automatically reducing power when objects enter safety zones, thereby eliminating restrictive safety zone requirements.
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 configuration effectively minimizes the risk of eye exposure to harmful optical energies, providing a safe and certified solution for the use of laser air data sensors on vehicles by directing beams away from occupied areas and reducing intensity as needed, thus addressing eye safety concerns.
Implementation Method 1
a laser air data sensor includes a laser transceiver configured to transmit one or more laser light beams
Implementation Method 2
implementations of laser based sensors that use molecular backscatter ('soft return' laser based sensor)
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a system includes a vehicle and a laser air data sensor, including a laser transceiver configured to transmit one or more laser light beams, mounted to the vehicle. In some embodiments, a window of the laser transceiver is fixed and oriented to transmit one or more laser light beams away from the vehicle and approximately parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle. In some embodiments, a window of the laser transceiver is fixed and oriented to transmit one or more laser light beams toward another portion of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the system further includes a processing device configured to control the laser air data sensor to attenuate the one or more laser light beams based on one or more operating parameters of the vehicle.