LiDAR Cross-Check for Air-Data Sensor Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-data systems, including pitot probes and angle of attack vanes, can become clogged or malfunction due to ice, sand, dirt, or insect nests, leading to inaccurate readings that can cause dangerous flight conditions such as aircraft stalls or loss of control, and replacing them with a standalone LiDAR system is not cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a simplified optical LiDAR system to verify the proper operation of air-data systems by emitting optical signals along different lines of sight, comparing velocity projections with air-data measurements, and transmitting alerts if discrepancies exceed predefined parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional air-data system is used, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but the measurement reliability deteriorates due to clogging by ice, sand, dirt, or insect nests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical signal as an intermediary to indirectly measure air data parameters. Instead of directly measuring airspeed and angles with prone-to-clog physical sensors, the system emits optical signals that interact with the atmosphere and measures the reflected signals to derive velocity and orientation information, thereby avoiding direct contact with contaminants
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical air-data measurement system (pitot probes and angle of attack vanes) with an optical measurement system. The optical system uses light emission and detection to measure atmospheric properties, substituting mechanical sensors that are susceptible to clogging with non-contact optical sensors that are immune to such issues
2Reliability
If a standalone LiDAR system is used to replace air-data system, then the measurement reliability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the optical system multi-functional by using the same optical emission and detection mechanism to derive multiple air data parameters including velocity magnitude, velocity direction, and orientation angles. This single optical infrastructure replaces multiple specialized sensors, achieving the reliability of LiDAR while maintaining the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of conventional systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simplified optical measurement approach that performs only the essential function of measuring atmospheric properties for flight control, rather than implementing a full-featured standalone LiDAR system. By focusing on the critical measurement needs and using basic optical emission and detection, the system achieves sufficient reliability without the excessive complexity and cost of complete LiDAR replacement
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
Ensures accurate air-data measurements by detecting potential malfunctions in air-data systems, thereby enhancing flight safety while reducing costs compared to standalone LiDAR systems.
Implementation Method 1
for each different LOS, determining, using data derived from a pair of optical signals emitted and reflected along the different LOS, an optical velocity projection, of the vehicle, along the different LOS with respect to the atmosphere about the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
for each emitted optical signal, receiving, at the vehicle, a reflected optical signal along the different LOS, wherein each reflected optical is a reflection, from the different region of atmosphere, of at least a portion of an emitted optical signal emitted along the different LOS
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Techniques are provided for a simplified system to verify proper operation of an Air-data system. The simplified system includes the Air-data system and at least one LiDAR system each of which is on or in a vehicle. Each LiDAR system emits and receives optical signals along a different line of sight. Data from each LiDAR system and the Air-data system are used to verify proper operation of the Air-data system. If operation is not verified, then an alert is transmitted indicating a potential fault in the Air-data system.