Abstract:
A total air temperature sensor includes a probe head (102), a strut (104), and a turbulence inducing surface (116). The probe head has an airflow inlet (106) and an airflow outlet (108). The strut defines a leading edge (110) and an opposed trailing edge (112) extending along a longitudinal axis (A), and connects between the probe head and an opposed probe mount (114). The turbulence inducing surface is defined in the strut aft the leading edge. The turbulence inducing surface is configured to trip a fluid boundary layer passing over the strut to transition from laminar to turbulent for moving flow separation toward the trailing edge to reduce acoustic noise emission from the total air temperature sensor.
Abstract:
A probe system includes a heater and a control circuit. The heater includes a resistive heating element routed through the probe system. An operational voltage is provided to the resistive heating element to provide heating for the probe system. The control circuit is configured to provide the operational voltage and monitor a circuit frequency based on an element capacitance between the resistive heating element and a metallic sheath of the heater over time. The control circuit is further configured to determine remaining useful life of the probe system based on the circuit frequency.
Abstract:
A system can include an unmanned aerial vehicle (10) and an altimeter disposed on the unmanned aerial vehicle. The altimeter can include an ultra-wideband radar antenna (12) disposed orthogonally to a plane of straight and level flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle and having an omnidirectional azimuthal beam pattern orthogonal to the plane of straight and level flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The altimeter can be configured to determine an altitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle above a target surface based on time of flight of radar pulses between the ultra-wideband radar antenna and the target surface.
Abstract:
A MEMS device includes a backing wafer with a support portion and central back plate connected to the support portion with spring flexures, a diaphragm wafer with a support portions and a sensing portion connected to the support portion with spring flexures, a passivation layer on the diaphragm, and a topping wafer. The device allows for stress isolation of a diaphragm in a piezoresistive device without a large MEMS die.
Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining a size and/or density of Super-cooled Large Droplets (SLDs) in a cloud atmosphere by comparing detected optical signals reflected from small and large sampling volumes of a cloud atmosphere. In some embodiments, an optical pulse is generated and divergently projected from a first optical fiber. A collimating lens (30) is aligned within the divergently projected optical pulse collimating a portion thereof. The collimated and uncollimated portions of the optical pulse are projected into the small and large sampling volumes of the cloud atmosphere, respectively. The ratio of the collimated to the uncollimated portions can be optically controlled. Signals corresponding to optical pulses having different collimated/uncollimated ratios are backscattered by the cloud atmosphere, detected and compared to one another. A processor is configured to calculate, based on scintillation spike differences between the optical pulses of different collimated/uncollimated ratios, a size and/or density of SLDs.
Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining, based on a detected portion of a projected pulse of quasi-optical energy backscattered by water particles within a divergent projection volume of a cloud atmosphere, properties of the backscattering water particles. The pulse of quasi-optical energy is projected into the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere (12). The divergent projection volume is defined by an axis of projection and an angle of projection about the axis of projection. The portion of the projected pulse of optical energy backscattered by water particles within the divergent projection volume of the cloud atmosphere is received and detected. Various properties of the backscattering water particles, which can be determined from the detected portion of the projected pulse backscattered by water particles can include particle density and/or particle size.
Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining, based on a spatial extent of ice accretion, whether an atmosphere contains super-cooled water droplets that equal and/or exceed a predetermined size. A convex-shaped housing is mounted to an aircraft and exposed to an airstream. The convex-shaped housing has a testing region that is monitored for ice accretion by an ice detector. A boundary locator determines a specific location to be tested within the testing region. The determined specific location corresponds to a calculated boundary that separates an ice-accretion region from an ice-free region if the atmosphere contains super-cooled water droplets up to the predetermined size. If the ice detector detects ice accretion at the determined specific location, an alert is generated. The alert can advantageously inform a pilot of an atmosphere containing super-cooled water droplets that equal or exceed the predetermined size.
Abstract:
A sensor assembly comprises a remote data concentrator (RDC) (14) and an optically powered transducer module (OPTM) (12). The RDC (14) transmits a first optical pulse including a parameter request signal along an optical fiber (16). The OPTM (12) is connected to the optical fiber (16), and comprises a photodiode (22), an energy storage device (30), a sensor (36), a processor (32), and a laser (24). The photodiode (22) receives the first optical pulse, and the energy storage device (30) is charged by the photodiode (22). The sensor (36), processor (32), and laser (24) are powered by discharging the energy storage device (30). The sensor (36) senses a parameter specified by the parameter request signal. The processor (32) generates a signal packet from the output of the first sensor (36). The laser transmits a second optical pulse including the signal packet along the optical fiber to the RDC (14).
Abstract:
An integrated circuit (36) is attached to a substrate (30) with a controlled stand-off height, by mounting a plurality of stud bumps (32) of the controlled stand-off height to the substrate (30) at predetermined locations, placing adhesive dots (34) over the stud bumps (32), placing the integrated circuit (36) on the substrate (30) over the adhesive dots (34), and applying downward pressure on the integrated circuit (36) until the integrated circuit is in mechanical contact with the stud bumps (32).