Rotor Blade Height Difference Assessment via Image Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for balancing rotor blades in rotorcrafts are complex and require costly, wired equipment that needs synchronization with rotor speed, making them difficult to implement in flight and prone to high installation and downtime costs.
Innovation Solution
A method using an image sensor to record successive images of rotating blades, determining trend curves of their trajectories, and evaluating mean deviations to calculate height differences, allowing for adjustments without synchronizing the image acquisition with rotor speed, using a portable device like a smartphone or tablet for image analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If synchronized measurement systems with wired equipment are used to measure blade height, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems (wired sensors, synchronized cameras, stroboscopes) with an optical system using a smartphone camera and image processing algorithms. The mechanical synchronization mechanism is substituted by detecting blade features directly from video frames and calculating height differences through image analysis, eliminating the need for complex mechanical coupling between the measurement system and rotor rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the blade trajectory through image capture and processing. Instead of directly measuring physical dimensions with complex sensors, the system captures optical images of the rotating blades, processes these images to extract trajectory information, and calculates height differences from the visual data. This copying approach simplifies the measurement system while maintaining precision.
2Measurement precision
If synchronized measurement systems are installed on the rotor, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of repair worsens due to installation time and downtime costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the measurement system to be self-contained and portable, allowing operators to perform blade height measurements without requiring installation on the rotor itself. The smartphone-based system can be deployed independently, eliminating the need for technical flight installations and reducing maintenance downtime. The system serves itself by using the smartphone's built-in camera and processing capabilities rather than requiring external specialized equipment installation.
3Productivity
If in-flight measurements are enabled with wired equipment, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to cable management challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical cable connections and physical synchronization mechanisms by using wireless smartphone technology. The system captures video of rotating blades through the aircraft window and performs all processing on the smartphone, replacing wired sensor systems and cable management infrastructure with a portable electronic device that requires no physical connection to the rotor or aircraft 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
Enables simple, in-flight balancing of rotor blades by statistically estimating height differences and suggesting adjustments, reducing equipment complexity and installation time, and allowing for efficient rotor balancing without the need for synchronized measurement systems.
Implementation Method 1
using an image sensor, successively recording source images in a space traversed by the rotating blades
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the height difference between at least two blades of a rotor (5) comprising a plurality of rotating blades (6), for example, in the context of rotor balancing. This method comprises at least the following steps: - using an image sensor (15), recording successive source images (60) in a space (40) traversed by said rotating blades (6) during a measurement period; - determining, for each blade (6) with a computer (20), a trend curve of the trajectory of this blade (6) in said space (40) as a function of successive positions of a characteristic point of this blade (6) using each source image (60) containing this blade (6); - evaluating at least one average difference between one trend curve and another trend curve.