Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) ice detection system
First Claim
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1. A detector, comprising:
- one or more Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) devices on an aircraft, each of the LIDAR devices including a transmitter and a receiver, wherein;
each of the one or more transmitters repetitively scan an aerodynamic surface on the aircraft using laser pulses, forming scattered laser pulses scattered from the aerodynamic surface, andeach of the one or more receivers receive the scattered laser pulses and output data comprising timing of the scattered laser pulses received in the one or more receivers; and
a computer coupled to the one or more LIDAR devices, the computer calculating temporal changes in coordinates of the aerodynamic surface from the output data, the temporal changes indicating a presence or absence of ice on the aerodynamic surface;
wherein;
the temporal changes are adjusted to exclude changes resulting from flexing of the aerodynamic surface due to changes in pressure of airflow over the aerodynamic surface orthe laser pulses scan the aerodynamic surface with a scanning speed that is faster than timescales on which the flexing takes place.
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Abstract
A Light Detecting and Ranging (LIDAR) based system detecting and quantifying ice accretions and shedding on an aircraft. This system can be used to detect ice, operate ice protection systems, and satisfy aircraft icing certification requirements. This system can also be used to determine the shape, thickness, type, and location of the ice accretions.
61 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A detector, comprising:
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one or more Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) devices on an aircraft, each of the LIDAR devices including a transmitter and a receiver, wherein; each of the one or more transmitters repetitively scan an aerodynamic surface on the aircraft using laser pulses, forming scattered laser pulses scattered from the aerodynamic surface, and each of the one or more receivers receive the scattered laser pulses and output data comprising timing of the scattered laser pulses received in the one or more receivers; and a computer coupled to the one or more LIDAR devices, the computer calculating temporal changes in coordinates of the aerodynamic surface from the output data, the temporal changes indicating a presence or absence of ice on the aerodynamic surface;
wherein;the temporal changes are adjusted to exclude changes resulting from flexing of the aerodynamic surface due to changes in pressure of airflow over the aerodynamic surface or the laser pulses scan the aerodynamic surface with a scanning speed that is faster than timescales on which the flexing takes place. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for detecting accumulation or shedding of ice from one or more aerodynamic surfaces on an aircraft, comprising:
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providing one or more Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) devices on an aircraft, each of the LIDAR devices including a transmitter and a receiver; repetitively scanning one or more aerodynamic surfaces on the aircraft using laser pulses transmitted from one or more of the transmitters, forming scattered laser pulses scattered from the one or more aerodynamic surfaces; receiving the scattered laser pulses in one or more of the receivers; outputting data from the one or more receivers comprising timing of the scattered laser pulses received in the one or more receivers; and calculating, from the data, temporal changes in coordinates of the one or more aerodynamic surfaces, the temporal changes indicating accumulation of ice on the one or more aerodynamic surfaces and/or shedding of the ice from the one or more aerodynamic surfaces, wherein; the temporal changes are adjusted to exclude changes resulting from flexing of the one or more aerodynamic surfaces due to changes in pressure of airflow over the one or more aerodynamic surfaces or the laser pulses scan the one or more aerodynamic surfaces with a scanning speed that is faster than timescales on which the flexing takes place. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A detector, comprising:
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one or more Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) devices on an aircraft, each of the LIDAR devices including a transmitter and a receiver, wherein; each of the one or more transmitters repetitively scan an aerodynamic surface on the aircraft using laser pulses, forming scattered laser pulses scattered from the aerodynamic surface, each of the one or more receivers receive the scattered laser pulses and output data comprising timing of the scattered laser pulses received in the one or more receivers; and a computer coupled to the one or more LIDAR devices, the computer calculating temporal changes in coordinates of the aerodynamic surface from the output data, the temporal changes indicating a presence or absence of ice on the aerodynamic surface, wherein; the LIDAR devices comprise a first LIDAR device, a second LIDAR device, a third LIDAR device, and a fourth LIDAR device, the first LIDAR device scans the aerodynamic surface comprising an upper surface of a wing, wherein the timing outputted from the first LIDAR device is used to determine the coordinates of the upper surface in a first direction, the second LIDAR device scans the upper surface of the wing, wherein the timing outputted from the second LIDAR device is used to determine the coordinates of the upper surface in a second direction, the third LIDAR device scans the aerodynamic surface comprising a lower surface of the wing, wherein the timing outputted from the third LIDAR device is used to determine the coordinates of the lower surface in the first direction, and the fourth LIDAR device scans the lower surface of the wing, wherein the timing outputted from the fourth LIDAR device is used to determine the coordinates of the lower surface in the second direction.
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Specification