Leading-Edge Antenna Assembly for Low-Drag Aircraft Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft antennas increase air drag and fuel costs due to their external mounting, and when internally mounted, they require radio waves to pass through aircraft structures, limiting geometry and material choices, which can increase weight and assembly time.
Innovation Solution
An elongate antenna assembly with a structural section and an antenna element, where the antenna element is integrated into a recessed area of the structural section, providing erosion protection and allowing radio wave transmission without passing through aircraft structures, thus reducing weight and air drag, and featuring a curved leading edge for aerodynamic shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antennas are mounted on the outer surface of the aircraft, then radio communication function is achieved, but air drag increases and fuel costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna element is merged with the leading edge structure of the aircraft component. The antenna element is integrated into a recess of the leading edge, combining the aerodynamic leading edge function with the radio communication antenna function into a single unified structure, thereby eliminating the need for separate external antenna mounts that would increase air drag
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna element is nested within the recess of the leading edge structure. The leading edge provides a protective envelope around the antenna element, with the antenna element positioned inside the recess such that its outer surface forms a smooth contour with the leading edge's outer surface, creating a nested configuration that reduces air drag while maintaining radio communication functionality
2Object-generated harmful factors
If antennas are mounted in the interior space of the aircraft, then air drag is reduced, but radio waves must pass through aircraft structures which limits geometry and material choices and increases weight
Solution Approach 1:
The leading edge structure is designed with localized different properties: the recess area provides a protected space for the antenna element while maintaining the overall aerodynamic shape. The leading edge material and geometry are optimized locally to accommodate the antenna element and enable radio wave transmission without compromising the protective function or increasing overall weight
Solution Approach 2:
The leading edge structure acts as an intermediary between the antenna element and the external environment. It provides protection to the antenna element while allowing radio waves to pass through, serving as a mediator that enables both protective enclosure and electromagnetic wave transmission without requiring the antenna to be fully external
3Reliability
If traditional antenna mounting methods are used, then radio communication is achieved, but assembly time of the aircraft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna element and leading edge are merged into a single integrated component or pre-assembled unit. This merging allows the antenna to be installed as part of the leading edge assembly process rather than requiring separate mounting operations, thereby reducing the number of assembly steps and overall assembly time
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna element is pre-positioned within the recess of the leading edge during the leading edge manufacturing or pre-assembly process. This preliminary action of integrating the antenna into the leading edge structure before final installation allows for streamlined assembly operations and reduces on-site assembly time
Data Source
AI summary
An elongate antenna assembly (1) for an aircraft including a structural section (3) and an antenna element (5), wherein the structural section (3) includes an elongate leading edge section (7) extending in a longitudinal direction (13) of the antenna assembly, a first lateral section (9), and a second lateral section (11), wherein the leading edge section (7) is curved such that the leading edge section (7) comprises a convex outer surface (15) extending in the longitudinal direction (13) of the antenna assembly (1) on a convex side (19) of the antenna assembly.