Wearable Karman Line Detection With Confidence Index Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable devices, such as watches, struggle to accurately and autonomously detect the crossing of the Karman line during spaceflight due to the inaccuracy of small gyroscopes and the need for precise inertial navigation systems, which are costly and unreliable, leading to potential false positives from sudden accelerations or other activities.
Innovation Solution
A method using a 3D acceleration sensor, such as a MEMS type, to measure and process acceleration vectors, combined with a validation process involving confidence indices based on angular velocity measurements, to autonomously detect and validate the crossing of the Karman line without real-time communication, using a detection device with an electronic unit and memory to record reference values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high-performance inertial navigation system with precise acceleration sensor and gyroscope is used, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential acceleration sensing function from a complete inertial navigation system, using a simple acceleration sensor without the complex gyroscope and navigation processing components. This selective extraction maintains sufficient detection precision for Karman line crossing while dramatically reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive acceleration sensors (such as MEMS sensors) that are sufficient for the specific detection task rather than expensive high-precision inertial navigation systems. The sensor requirements are tailored to the specific need of detecting Karman line crossing, allowing use of lower-cost components.
2Measurement precision
If a precise inertial navigation system with gyroscope is used, then detection precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to gyroscope inaccuracy during spaceflight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gyroscope component from the detection system entirely, keeping only the acceleration sensor. This eliminates the reliability issues associated with gyroscope inaccuracy during spaceflight while maintaining sufficient precision for detecting the altitude threshold crossing event.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses robust, simple acceleration sensors that are more reliable than complex gyroscopes for this specific application. The acceleration sensor technology is mature and proven reliable in space environments, whereas small gyroscopes have demonstrated accuracy and reliability problems.
3Ease of operation
If autonomous detection without real-time communication is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision may worsen due to lack of external validation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary configuration of detection parameters, threshold values, and validation criteria before the spaceflight mission. All necessary detection logic and reference data are pre-loaded into the device, enabling autonomous operation without real-time communication while maintaining detection precision through pre-established validation rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection device is designed to be self-sufficient, containing all necessary processing logic, reference data, and validation mechanisms internally. The device autonomously detects Karman line crossing, validates the detection against pre-programmed criteria, and generates results without requiring external satellite positioning or real-time communication 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 method provides reliable and accurate detection of the Karman line crossing by a wearable device, minimizing false positives through validation processes, ensuring precise altitude determination during spaceflight.
Implementation Method 1
a detection device consisting of an acceleration sensor, a time base and an electronic unit, this detection device being arranged so as to be able, during a detection phase of a detection method implemented by the wearable object, to measure accelerations of the wearable object
Data Source
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AI summary
The validation method relates to the detection of a Karman line crossing by a portable object (2) carried on a rocket and incorporating a detection device comprising an acceleration sensor (8) capable of measuring the accelerations of the portable object and an electronic unit for processing the acceleration measurements taken in order to detect a Karman line crossing by the portable object. The validation method calculates at least one confidence index, relating to measurements taken by the portable object for at least one variable that is a function of forces acting on this portable object, and verifies whether at least one given condition for said at least one confidence index is met, so as to validate or not the detection of the Karman line crossing by the portable object and therefore by the rocket.The invention also relates to a portable object, in particular a watch, arranged to be able to implement a method for detecting a passage of the Karman line and the method for validating the invention.