Rotorcraft Sensor Topology Wireless Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

In rotorcraft, existing Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) face challenges with heavy, costly, and prone-to-failure wires used for transmitting vibration sensor data from sensors to the monitoring system, leading to inefficiencies and potential mechanical issues due to excess vibration.

Innovation Solution

A wireless concentrator unit and sensor system that communicates sensor data over both wired and wireless connections, allowing sensors to transmit data to a wireless sensor unit, which then relays it to a wireless concentrator unit before being sent to the HUMS via a wired connection, reducing the reliance on heavy wires and enhancing data transmission efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wires are used to transmit sensor data from sensors to HUMS, then data transmission is reliable, but the wires become heavy, costly, and prone to failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidwire weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wire-based transmission system with a wireless communication system. Sensors communicate with wireless sensor units, which transmit data to the HUMS without physical wire connections, thereby eliminating wire weight while maintaining data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless sensor units and wireless concentrator units as intermediary devices between the sensors and HUMS. These intermediaries receive data from sensors wirelessly and relay it to the HUMS, eliminating the need for direct wire connections while ensuring reliable data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If wires are used to transmit sensor data, then data can be transmitted continuously, but the wires are costly and prone to failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire failure resistanceVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wire-based transmission system with wireless communication technology, eliminating the costs and failure risks associated with physical wires while maintaining continuous data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless sensor units and wireless concentrator units as intermediary devices that facilitate data transmission without requiring expensive and failure-prone wire infrastructure, reducing system cost while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple sensors are connected directly to HUMS with wires, then data transmission is stable, but the system becomes complex and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission stabilityVSAvoidwire routing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data transmission system into multiple independent wireless communication channels between sensors, wireless sensor units, and wireless concentrator units. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex wire routing while maintaining stable data transmission through distributed wireless communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless sensor units and wireless concentrator units as intermediary devices that simplify the system architecture by providing wireless communication interfaces, thereby reducing wire routing complexity while ensuring stable data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Length of stationary object

If heavy wires are used for sensor data transmission, then data can be transmitted over long distances, but the wires increase vibration risks in rotorcraft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission distanceVSAvoidvibration-induced wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wire-based transmission system with wireless communication, eliminating the physical presence of heavy wires that contribute to vibration and mechanical wear in the rotorcraft environment while maintaining long-distance data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless sensor units and wireless concentrator units as intermediary devices that enable long-distance data transmission without requiring physical wire connections, thereby eliminating vibration-induced wear on wire infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9485605B2Network and sensor topology for a rotorcraft

Publication Date: 2016.11.01 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

Systems are provided for monitoring a rotorcraft. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one wireless concentrator unit. At least one wireless sensor unit communicates over a wireless connection with the at least one wireless concentrator unit. At least one first sensor communicates over a wired connection with the at least one wireless sensor unit. A monitoring system communicates over a wired connection with the at least one wireless concentrator unit.