Optical Stall Detection System for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stall detection systems for aircraft are prone to environmental failures such as icing and mechanical wear, leading to untimely warnings and increased risk of stalls due to their imperfections.
Innovation Solution
A stall detection system that characterizes fluid flow over an airfoil using optical systems with laser transceivers to detect changes in backscattered light, including Doppler shifts and signal variations, to accurately identify the onset of stall conditions, providing timely warnings and enabling corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical angle of attack vanes or traditional sensors are used to detect stall conditions, then the system structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sensors are susceptible to icing, mechanical wear, and provide untimely warnings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical angle of attack vanes and traditional physical sensors with an optical detection system using laser transceivers. The system emits laser beams through optical windows in the aircraft skin and detects backscattered light from particles in the airflow to determine flow separation and stall conditions, eliminating mechanical components susceptible to icing and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces particles (natural or introduced) as intermediaries in the airflow to scatter laser light. By detecting the backscattered light from these particles, the system can characterize fluid flow and detect flow separation without direct mechanical contact with the airflow, thus avoiding icing and mechanical wear issues.
2Loss of time
If traditional sensors are used to detect flow separation, then the device complexity is low, but the warnings are untimely providing too little time for corrective action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of flow separation by continuously monitoring airflow characteristics using optical methods before the stall condition fully develops. The system detects early signs of flow separation and provides advance warning to the pilot, allowing timely corrective action before the aircraft enters a full stall.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical detection system replaces mechanical sensors that react to established flow separation with a system that can detect early flow field changes through light scattering, providing earlier warning of impending stall conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mechanical sensors are placed on the aircraft fuselage to detect angle of attack, then the detection method is straightforward, but the sensors are susceptible to severe weather conditions and mechanical wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical angle of attack sensors with an optical system that uses laser transceivers and optical windows. The laser beams pass through the aircraft skin and interact with particles in the airflow, detecting flow separation optically without mechanical contact, thus eliminating susceptibility to icing and mechanical wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy or representation of the airflow field by using light scattering from particles to characterize fluid flow. This optical copy allows detection of flow separation without physical sensors in the harsh airflow environment.
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 effectively detects the onset of stall conditions, providing timely warnings to prevent stalls by characterizing fluid flow changes, thereby enhancing safety and reducing the risk of catastrophic events.
Implementation Method 1
an optical system including at least one laser transceiver configured to transmit at least one light beam through the at least one optical window and characterize the backscattered light from the at least one light beam
Implementation Method 2
detect changes in backscattered light, including Doppler shifts and signal variations
Implementation Method 3
at least one laser transceiver configured to transmit at least one light beam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method of determining the onset of a stall condition in a vehicle is provided. The method comprises: measuring, with a stall detection system, data which would indicate the presence of turbulent fluid flowing proximate to a foil; determining from the data whether an onset of a stall condition has occurred; and upon determining the onset of the stall condition, performing at least one of: issuing an alert, and causing the vehicle to avoid or exit the stall condition, and cease such activity when the onset of the stall condition no longer exists.