Rotorcraft Blade Tracking With Focused Light Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotorcraft blade tracking systems face inconsistent performance due to varying environmental conditions and blade conditions, leading to poor signal return over the range of distances typical in rotorcraft designs, as they rely on passive optic systems that struggle with shadow variations and distance inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
A controlled light source system is implemented, projecting a focused beam of light with predetermined spectral characteristics, which is directed onto a rotorcraft blade target and detects the reflected beam, using an optical assembly and detector to maintain consistency and eye safety across various conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive optic systems are used for blade tracking, then the system structure is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to shadow variations and inconsistent signal return
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of passively detecting shadows cast by blades, the invention actively projects a light beam onto the blade and detects the reflected light. This inversion from passive shadow detection to active light projection and reflection detection resolves the inconsistency caused by varying environmental lighting conditions and shadow variations, significantly improving measurement precision while maintaining reasonable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by using a controlled light source with specific spectral characteristics and focusing the beam to maintain consistent intensity over the measurement range. This parameter control ensures reliable signal return across varying distances and environmental conditions, improving measurement precision without excessively complicating the system
2Measurement precision
If the light source projects a focused beam over a range of distances, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional optical assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The optical assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: directing the light beam toward the blade, focusing the beam to maintain consistent diameter over the measurement range, and ensuring the beam provides predetermined spectral characteristics. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated optical assembly, the invention improves measurement precision across varying distances while minimizing the increase in device complexity
3Reliability
If the beam diameter is maintained over a range of distances, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases due to focusing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The optical assembly is configured to focus the light beam such that it maintains a consistent diameter and predetermined spectral characteristics over the specific distance range relevant to rotorcraft blade tracking. This focused beam approach ensures reliable and consistent operation across varying distances without requiring overly complex focusing mechanisms, as the system is optimized for the specific application range
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 provides consistent and accurate rotorcraft blade tracking by maintaining focused beam characteristics over a range of distances, improving performance and reliability despite environmental and blade condition variations.
Implementation Method 1
a light source mounted on the rotorcraft and configured to generate a projected beam of light sufficient to impinge on a target on a blade of the rotorcraft
Implementation Method 2
an optical assembly coupled to the light source, and oriented to (i) direct the projected beam of light toward the target and (ii) focus the projected beam of light, such that the projected beam of light provides predetermined spectral characteristics along a predetermined range of distances
Implementation Method 3
a detector coupled to the light source and the optical assembly and configured to detect from the target, a reflected beam of light associated with the projected beam of light
Data Source
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AI summary
An improved rotorcraft blade tracking system and method is provided. The provided blade tracking system and method projects a focused beam of light with minimal variance in predetermined spectral characteristics at the ranges of distance suitable for rotorcraft blade tracking applications. The provided system and method detects a reflected beam of light that is associated with the projected focused beam of light. The provided system and method maintains eye safety, and performs consistently over a variety of environmental conditions.