Load Estimation System for Aerodynamic Structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016011073-A1
Application number	US-201314097365-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 5, 2013
Priority date	Dec 5, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying loads caused by wind. Information for a group of aircraft parameters recorded by an information recorder is received in an aircraft during operation of the aircraft. A number of loads on an aerodynamic structure of the aircraft is estimated using the information for the group of aircraft parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A load estimation system comprising:
a wind load analyzer configured to receive first information for a group of aircraft parameters recorded by an information recorder during operation of an aircraft, identify second information about a number of loads on a wing from the first information, and estimate the number of loads on the wing of the aircraft using the second information.

2 . The load estimation system of claim 1 further comprising:
an action identifier configured to identify maintenance for the aircraft from the number of loads estimated for the wing by the wind load analyzer.

3 . The load estimation system of claim 1 , wherein the wind load analyzer comprises:
a neural network configured to receive the first information and identify the second information using the first information.

4 . The load estimation system of claim 3 , wherein the wind load analyzer further comprises:
an estimator configured to estimate the number of loads on the wing of the aircraft using the second information.

5 . The load estimation system of claim 3 , wherein the neural network is trained using the first information recorded by the information recorder and training information generated by sensors for the wing of the aircraft.

6 . The load estimation system of claim 5 , wherein the training information is generated during testing of the aircraft.

7 . The load estimation system of claim 1 , wherein the second information is selected from at least one of shear, bending moment, or torsion.

8 . The load estimation system of claim 1 , wherein the second information is for a group of sections in the wing of the aircraft.

9 . The load estimation system of claim 1 , wherein the group of aircraft parameters is selected from at least one of gross weight, aircraft vertical acceleration, aircraft lateral acceleration, roll angle, roll rate, air speed, Mach number, altitude, wing flap angle, angle of attack, or sideslip angle.

10 . The load estimation system of claim 1 , wherein the information recorder is selected from at least one of a flight recorder or a flight management computer.

11 . An apparatus comprising:
a wind load analyzer configured to receive information for a group of aircraft parameters recorded by an information recorder in an aircraft during operation of the aircraft and estimate a number of loads on an aerodynamic structure of the aircraft using the information for the group of aircraft parameters.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the information is first information and in being configured to estimate the number of loads on the aerodynamic structure of the aircraft using the first information for the group of aircraft parameters, the wind load analyzer is configured to identify second information about the number of loads on the aerodynamic structure from the first information and estimate the number of loads on the aerodynamic structure of the aircraft using the second information.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:
an action identifier configured to identify maintenance for the aircraft from the number of loads estimated for the aerodynamic structure by the wind load analyzer.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the wind load analyzer comprises:
a neural network configured to receive the first information and identify the second information using the first information.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the wind load analyzer further comprises:
an estimator configured to estimate the number of loads on the aerodynamic structure of the aircraft using the second information.

16 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the aerodynamic structure is selected from one of a wing, a horizontal stabilizer, a vertical stabilizer, a control surface, a rudder, and a flap.

17 . A method for identifying loads caused by wind, the method comprising:
receiving information for a group of aircraft parameters recorded by an information recorder in an aircraft during operation of the aircraft; and estimating a number of loads on an aerodynamic structure of the aircraft using the information for the group of aircraft parameters.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the information is first information and wherein the estimating step comprises:
identifying second information about the number of loads on a wing from the first information; and estimating the number of loads on the aerodynamic structure of the aircraft using the second information, wherein the estimating is performed by a neural network.

19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
identifying an action for the aircraft from the number of loads estimated for a wing.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the aerodynamic structure is selected from one of a wing, a horizontal stabilizer, a vertical stabilizer, a control surface, a rudder, and a flap.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Long Kim Chenming

Classifications

• B64D45/00

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D2045/0085

  Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration · CPC title

• G01M5/0016 Primary

  of aircraft wings or blades · CPC title