Wind-Arc Wind Estimation Using GPS and Orientation Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of low-cost, scalable methods for estimating wind in urban areas around buildings, bridges, trees, towers, and power lines, which poses a safety risk to Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations.
Innovation Solution
The Wind-Arc technique uses GPS and orientation sensors to estimate wind vectors during turning maneuvers without requiring an on-board flow sensor or estimation of thrust or drag forces, leveraging the concept of wind triangles to algebraically solve for wind vectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an on-board flow sensor is used to measure wind, then wind measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wind measurement function from the aircraft's own airflow sensors and uses GPS-based ground track analysis instead. By removing the requirement for on-board flow sensors, the system achieves wind estimation without the associated hardware complexity and cost, while maintaining sufficient measurement precision through alternative means (GPS velocity and heading data).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical flow sensor measurement system with a computational approach using GPS and orientation sensor data. Instead of physically measuring airflow, the system calculates wind vectors through mathematical processing of position and heading changes, eliminating the need for complex airflow sensing hardware.
2Measurement precision
If thrust or drag force estimation is used to determine wind, then wind estimation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wind estimation function from thrust/drag force calculations and uses direct GPS-based velocity and heading data instead. By removing the need to estimate aerodynamic forces, the system achieves wind determination without the associated complexity of force measurement and calculation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical force estimation approach with a kinematic approach using GPS and orientation sensors. Instead of calculating wind from thrust and drag forces, the system determines wind vectors through mathematical processing of ground track velocity and heading changes, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Device complexity
If wind estimation is not performed in urban areas, then device complexity is reduced, but safety and operational reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal wind estimation method that works in all environments including urban areas with buildings, bridges, trees, towers, and power lines. The GPS-based approach is universally applicable regardless of local obstacles or atmospheric conditions, providing reliable wind information where traditional sensors would be blocked or unreliable, thereby ensuring safety without requiring environment-specific hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for wind estimation are presented herein, such as using Uncrewed Aircraft (UA). No on-board flow sensor is required, and the present subject matter does not require estimation of thrust or drag forces. For example, using only GPS (or another indicium of groundspeed) and orientation sensors, wind vectors in the Earth-fixed frame can be estimated during turning maneuvers. The “Wind-Arc” technique described herein was verified using simulation. Also, when applied to experimental flight test data, the technique works and follows both airspeed and wind speed trends.