Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a system for detecting foreign object debris ingested into an aircraft engine. The system detects such foreign object debris by projecting a beam of light over an inlet (18) of the aircraft engine (14). When foreign object debris is ingested into the aircraft engine, it intercepts the beam of light and scatters a back-scattered portion of the intercepted beam of light. An optical detector (24) is configured to detect the back-scattered portion of the intercepted beam of light. A processor is configured to determine whether foreign object debris is ingested by the aircraft engine based on a comparison of a threshold value with a signal indicative of the back-scattered portion generated by the optical detector.
Abstract:
A system includes a first sensor (102) positioned to sense presence of a contrail in a first volume (104), wherein the first volume at least partially overlaps an expected volume of a contrail (106) proximate an aircraft. A second sensor (108) is positioned to sense a background reference in a second volume (110), where the second volume (110) does not overlap the expected volume of a contrail (106) proximate an aircraft. A controller (118) is operatively connected to the first and second sensors (102, 108). The controller (118) includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller (118) to utilize data input from both the first and second volumes (104, 110) to determine if a contrail is present from the aircraft. A system includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller (118) to predict persistence of contrails on an intended route through the volume of airspace and to determine an improved route and/or propulsion operation to reduce contrail formation and persistence relative to the intended route.
Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining health of an electrical heater of an air data probe based on a comparison between a calculated expected value and a measured value of an electrical property of the electrical heater. The expected value of the electrical property is calculated based in part on the electrical power provided to the electrical heater and further based in part on the aircraft flight parameters and/or environmental conditions. Such aircraft flight parameters and/or environmental conditions can include at least one of: electric power source status, airspeed, air pressure, altitude, air temperature, humidity, liquid water content, ice water content, droplet/particle size distribution, angle of attack, and angle of sideslip. These aircraft flight parameters and/or environmental conditions are received via an aircraft interface.
Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining health of an electrical heater of an air data probe based on a comparison between a calculated expected value and a measured value of an electrical property of the electrical heater. The expected value of the electrical property is calculated based in part on the electrical power provided to the electrical heater and further based in part on the aircraft flight parameters and/or environmental conditions. Such aircraft flight parameters and/or environmental conditions can include at least one of: electric power source status, airspeed, air pressure, altitude, air temperature, humidity, liquid water content, ice water content, droplet/particle size distribution, angle of attack, and angle of sideslip. These aircraft flight parameters and/or environmental conditions are received via an aircraft interface.
Abstract:
A system includes an optical ice detection (OID) sub-system (102) optically coupled to light collection optics (108). A water vapor differential absorption LIDAR (WV-DIAL) sub-system (104) is optically coupled to the OlD laser source or light collection optics. The OID sub-system and the WV-DIAL sub-system share at least a portion of an optical path of the light source or through the light collection optics. The OID sub-system, the WV-DIAL sub-system, and the illumination and light collection optics can all be aboard an aircraft. A method includes using a set of illumination and light collection optics abord an aircraft to obtain data indicative of optical ice detection (OID) and water vapor differential absorption LIDAR (WV-DIAL), e.g. to detect contrail forming conditions for the aircraft and/or predict persistence of contrails from the aircraft.
Abstract:
A method of monitoring an ice protection system (10) of a rotorcraft or an aircraft includes applying heat to rotating blades of the rotorcraft or the aircraft according to a heater duty cycle and determining an anticipated ice shed time for ice to shed from the rotating blades. Torque of the rotating blades is sensed, and an actual ice shed time for ice to shed from the rotating blades is determined based on the sensed torque. A status of the ice protection system (10) is determined based on the anticipated ice shed time and the actual ice shed time, and the status of the ice protection system (10) is output for consumption by a consuming system (70).
Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining an effective size, quantity, shape, and type of water particles in a cloud atmosphere based on differences in amplitudes of optical signals backscattered at different backscattering angles. Off-axis backscattering - backscattering at angles other than 180 degrees - is affected by the effective size, quantity, shape, and type of water droplets. Detected amplitudes of optical signals that are backscattered at different angles are used to indicate the effective size, quantity, shape, and type of water particles in the cloud atmosphere. In some embodiments, optical emitters and detectors are configured to measure amplitudes of optical signals backscattered at backscattering angles of both on-axis - 180 degrees - and off-axis varieties.
Abstract:
A system (100) for correcting an air temperature (AT) reading can include a water content sensor (101) configured to measure a water content in an airflow and to output a water content signal (101a) indicative thereof, an AT sensor (103) configured to measure an air temperature and output an AT signal (103a) indicative thereof, and a correction module (105) operatively connected to the water content sensor (101) and the AT sensor (103). The correction module (105) can be configured to receive the water content signal (101a) and the AT signal (1013a) and to correct the AT signal (103a) based on the water content to output a corrected AT signal (105a).
Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining liquid-water concentration in a cloud atmosphere based on a frequency of resonance of a magnetostrictive resonator and/or a temporal variation of the resonant frequency of the magnetostrictive resonator. The magnetostrictive resonator is configured to resonate at a resonant frequency indicative of a measure of ice accumulation upon an exterior surface of the magnetostrictive resonator. When in liquid-water ambient, however, the magnetostrictive resonator has a resonant frequency less than a baseline resonant frequency. When in the liquid-water ambient, the magnetostrictive resonator also has temporal variations in resonant frequency that exceed one part in ten thousand. Using one or both of these resonant-frequency responses to liquid-water ambient, a signal indicative of liquid-water content can be generated.