Method and system for variable flight data collection
First Claim
1. A method for collecting flight data from an aircraft capable of flying at various operational conditions, said method comprising:
- determining the operational condition of said aircraft;
collecting data at a first sampling rate when said operational condition is one of a first set of operational conditions; and
collecting data at a second sampling rate when said operational condition is one of a second set of operational conditions, wherein said second sampling rate is greater than said first sampling rate.
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Abstract
Aircraft flight data collection is enhanced by changing the data sampling rate as a function of an operational condition of the aircraft, such as its flight phase. An algorithm is used to determine the flight phase. Then, the data is collected at a first sampling rate when the flight phase is one of a first set of flight phases and collected at a second sampling rate when the flight phase is one of a second set of flight phases. The second sampling rate is greater than the first sampling rate to maximize the data storage capacity of the system. Generally, the higher sampling rate is used with transient flight phases such as takeoff and thrust reverse.
61 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for collecting flight data from an aircraft capable of flying at various operational conditions, said method comprising:
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determining the operational condition of said aircraft;
collecting data at a first sampling rate when said operational condition is one of a first set of operational conditions; and
collecting data at a second sampling rate when said operational condition is one of a second set of operational conditions, wherein said second sampling rate is greater than said first sampling rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
monitoring said aircraft for anomalous events; and
collecting data at a third sampling rate when an anomalous event is detected, wherein said third sampling rate is greater than said first sampling rate.
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7. The method of claim 6 wherein said third sampling rate is equal to said second sampling rate.
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3. The method of 2 wherein said first set of flight phases comprises cruise phase and said second set of flight phases comprises engine start, takeoff and thrust reverse phases.
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8. A method for collecting flight data from an aircraft capable of flying at various flight phases and having at least one engine and a corresponding engine controller, said method comprising:
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determining the flight phase of said aircraft;
collecting data from said engine controller at a first sampling rate when said flight phase is one of a first set of flight phases; and
collecting data from said engine controller at a second sampling rate when said flight phase is one of a second set of flight phases, wherein said second sampling rate is greater than said first sampling rate. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
monitoring said engine for anomalous events; and
collecting data at a third sampling rate when an anomalous event is detected, wherein said third sampling rate is greater than said first sampling rate.
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16. The method of claim 15 wherein said third sampling rate is equal to said second sampling rate.
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10. The method of 9 wherein said first set of flight phases comprises cruise phase and said second set of flight phases comprises engine start, takeoff and thrust reverse phases.
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17. A system for collecting flight data from an aircraft capable of flying at various flight phases and having at least one engine and a corresponding engine controller, said system comprising:
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means for determining the flight phase of said aircraft; and
means for collecting data from said engine controller, wherein data is collected at a first sampling rate when said flight phase is one of a first set of flight phases and at a second sampling rate when said flight phase is one of a second set of flight phases, said second sampling rate being greater than said first sampling rate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification