Redundant Piloting Sensor Device for Aircraft Ground Speed Integrity

The patent segments the navigation system into multiple independent GNSS receivers (at least two receivers from the same or different constellations) instead of relying on a single receiver. Each receiver independently processes satellite signals, and their results are combined through a fusion algorithm. This segmentation provides redundancy so that if one receiver or its satellites fail, the other receiver(s) can maintain navigation integrity, thereby improving reliability without requiring an overly complex centralized failure management system.

The patent changes the parameter of system configuration from single-receiver to multi-receiver architecture. By introducing additional receivers and combining their outputs through weighted fusion algorithms, the system transforms the reliability characteristic without proportionally increasing complexity, as the fusion process systematically handles multiple failure configurations through mathematical combination rather than exhaustive error checking.

The patent merges the outputs of multiple GNSS receivers through a fusion algorithm that combines position and velocity information from each receiver. Instead of maintaining separate failure detection systems for each receiver (which would multiply complexity), the system combines their results using weighted averaging or other fusion techniques. This merging approach maintains high availability by utilizing multiple receivers while controlling complexity through a unified processing framework rather than multiple independent estimation systems.

The patent implements a universal fusion algorithm that handles multiple failure configurations simultaneously. Rather than creating specific estimators for each possible failure scenario (single satellite failure, multiple satellite failures, receiver failures), the fusion algorithm universally processes inputs from multiple receivers and naturally handles various failure modes through its mathematical structure. This multi-functional approach improves availability while avoiding the combinatorial explosion of specialized estimators.