Optical Air Data Fusion with Remote Atmospheric Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurately extracting air data parameters from optical backscatter signals is challenging due to numerous dependencies and degrees of freedom in the model fit, leading to reduced accuracy and reliability in air data systems.
Innovation Solution
An optical air data fusion system that combines data from an optical air data system and an independent optical instrument to measure aerosol and molecular scattering, reducing the degrees of freedom in the model fit by providing known parameters, thereby enhancing air data parameter accuracy and system reliability through data fusion methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If data from multiple optical instruments is fused, then air data parameter accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data from multiple optical instruments (optical air data system and independent optical instrument) to measure aerosol and molecular scattering. This data fusion approach reduces the degrees of freedom in the model fit by providing known parameters from the independent instrument, thereby enhancing air data parameter accuracy while managing the complexity through integrated processing.
2Reliability
If more parameters are measured and fused, then reliability is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The independent optical instrument serves as an intermediary that provides additional measurements of aerosol and molecular scattering. This intermediary data source acts as a mediator to reduce the degrees of freedom in the model fit, thereby improving reliability by providing redundant information and constraints for the air data parameter extraction.
3Measurement precision
If hardware settings are dynamically optimized, then signal level is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically optimizes hardware settings in the optical air data system based on feedback from the fused data. By using the additional measurements from the independent optical instrument, the system can adjust hardware parameters to enhance signal level and avoid saturation, creating a feedback loop that improves measurement precision while managing complexity through adaptive control.
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
The system improves air data parameter accuracy and reliability by reducing model fit degrees of freedom, providing system redundancy, and optimizing hardware and software settings, while also verifying optical health and confidence levels.
Implementation Method 1
an optical air data system operative to measure aerosol and molecular scattering of light from an interrogation region
Implementation Method 2
an optical air data system operative to measure aerosol and molecular scattering of light from an interrogation region
Implementation Method 3
an optical instrument separate from the optical air data system, with the optical instrument operative to measure aerosol and/or molecular scattering of light from the interrogation region
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises an optical air data system that measures aerosol and molecular scattering of light, and an optical instrument that measures aerosol and/or molecular scattering of light. A processor receives data from the air data system and from the optical instrument. The processor performs one or more signal analysis and data fusion methods comprising: (a) determining aerosol and/or molecular concentration from the received data, modifying a data analysis algorithm to optimize any remaining unknown parameters, and outputting enhanced air data parameters; (b) determining aerosol concentration from the received data, dynamically optimizing hardware settings in the air data system to enhance a signal level and avoid system saturation, and outputting enhanced air data parameters; or (c) determining aerosol and/or molecular concentration from the received data, estimating a confidence level of an air data algorithm, verifying optical health of the air data system, and reporting the optical health to a user.