Particle Sensor Airspeed Measurement via Light Transit Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air data systems on vehicles, such as aircraft, lack redundancy and reliability in measuring airspeed, particularly in environments with high particulate counts where traditional probes may fail, leading to safety concerns and inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
A particle sensor system that uses a light source to transmit a beam into an interrogation air region, collects scattered light with receive optics, and measures signal intensity and duration to calculate transit time and airspeed, providing a redundant and more accurate airspeed measurement through a processor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional air data systems are used to measure airspeed, then the measurement is straightforward with existing infrastructure, but the system lacks redundancy and reliability in high particulate environments
Solution Approach 1:
The particle sensor originally designed for counting and sizing particles is made multi-functional by also measuring airspeed through transit time calculations. The same optical detector and processing electronics that analyze particle characteristics are used to compute airspeed from the duration of light blockage signals, eliminating the need for separate redundant systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the particle sensor's inherent operational characteristics (light beam obstruction by particles) to simultaneously achieve both particle detection and airspeed measurement. The signal duration caused by particle transit through the light beam provides airspeed information without requiring additional sensors or measurement mechanisms.
2Reliability
If traditional air data probes are used, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but it fails in high particulate count environments leading to inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful effect of particles obstructing the light beam, which traditionally interferes with particle sensor operation, is converted into a useful measurement mechanism. The duration of light blockage caused by particles moving through the beam provides direct information about airspeed, turning the particulate environment from a source of error into the measurement medium itself.
3Reliability
If a redundant airspeed measurement system is implemented, then reliability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The particle sensor originally designed for counting and sizing particles is made multi-functional by also measuring airspeed through transit time calculations. The same optical detector and processing electronics that analyze particle characteristics are used to compute airspeed from the duration of light blockage signals, eliminating the need for separate redundant systems.
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 enhances the reliability and accuracy of airspeed measurements by providing a backup system that can operate in high particulate environments, improving safety and robustness with zero additional cost, and can validate existing air data systems.
Implementation Method 1
a train of collection optics to receive the scattered light from the particles
Implementation Method 2
an optical detector in communication with the at least one receive channel and configured to receive the collected scattered portion of the transmitted light beam. The optical detector is operative to measure a signal intensity as a function of time
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a particle sensor assembly, which includes a light source that transmits a light beam into an external interrogation air region; a set of receive optics that provides a receive channel, the receive optics configured to collect a scattered portion of the light beam from a particle in the interrogation air region; and an optical detector that receives the collected scattered portion. The optical detector measures a signal intensity as a function of time from the scattered portion, with the signal intensity indicating a particle size and a signal duration indicating motion of the particle through the interrogation air region. A processor is in communication with the optical detector and is operative to determine a transit time of the particle through the interrogation air region based on the signal duration, and compute an airspeed based on parameters comprising the transit time and a size of the light beam.