Optical Sensor Array for Air Data Estimation on Aerospace Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air data sensors for aerospace vehicles, such as pitot tubes and angle of attack vanes, are susceptible to damage, require complex installations, and protrude from the aircraft skin, making them difficult to maintain and access, while also affecting stress distribution and airflow.

Innovation Solution

An array of optical sensors embedded within a thin film on the aircraft skin converts incident light into optical signals for estimating air data parameters, eliminating the need for traditional sensors and reducing maintenance complexity by providing embedded, protected, and easily accessible data collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional sensors (pitot tubes, angle of attack vanes) are used to collect air data, then measurement capability is provided, but the sensors are susceptible to damage from birds or ice impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor durabilityVSAvoiddamage from birds or ice impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical sensors (pitot tubes, angle of attack vanes) with an optical sensing system that uses optical fibers and photodetectors to measure air data parameters. This substitution eliminates the mechanical components that are vulnerable to physical damage from birds or ice impact, while maintaining the capability to measure stagnation pressure, static pressure, and angle of attack through optical interference patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If conventional sensors are installed on the aircraft skin, then air data measurement is enabled, but holes must be drilled into the skin affecting stress distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair data measurement capabilityVSAvoidstress distribution in aircraft skin

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The optical sensing system requires only small access points for fiber optic cables rather than large holes needed for conventional mechanical sensors. The optical fibers can be routed through minimal openings or even through the aircraft skin using existing pathways, significantly reducing the disruption to stress distribution while maintaining full air data measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If sensors protrude from the aircraft skin, then measurement function is provided, but the sensors are difficult to access for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor functionalityVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The optical fiber-based sensing system allows maintenance personnel to access and replace sensors through minimal openings in the aircraft skin, rather than requiring access to protruding components. The flexible nature of optical fibers enables them to be routed through tight spaces and existing pathways, making the system significantly easier to maintain while preserving full measurement functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If conventional sensors are used, then air data parameters can be measured, but complex packing constraints must be accommodated for sensor geometry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidpacking constraints for sensor geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical sensing system replaces bulky mechanical sensor assemblies with thin, flexible optical fibers and compact photodetector elements. This substitution dramatically reduces the space required for sensor installation and eliminates complex packing constraints, as optical fibers can be routed through existing pathways and require minimal clearance, simplifying the overall system integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 optical sensor system enhances robustness, accuracy, and accessibility, reduces maintenance needs, and minimizes interference with airflow and structural stress, while offering increased coverage and data processing capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

converting, by an array of optical sensors, incident light into an optical signal indicating a measurement for estimating the one or more air data parameters

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11454643B2Method of collecting measurements for estimating air data parameters of an aerospace vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A method of collecting measurements for estimating one or more air data parameters of an aerospace vehicle is disclosed. The method includes converting, by an array of optical sensors, incident light into an optical signal indicating a measurement for estimating the one or more air data parameters. The array of optical sensors is disposed along a skin of the aerospace vehicle. The method includes measuring, by an interrogator, a wavelength of a combined optical signal, wherein the combined optical signal is a combination of the optical signals generated by each of the optical sensors that are part of the array. The method further includes converting, by the interrogator, the wavelength of the optical signal into an electronic signal indicating either the measurement for estimating the one or more air data parameters. Finally, the method includes sending the electronic signal indicating the measurement to a platform network.