Laser air data sensor mounting and operation for eye safety

• US 10,775,504 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Issued: 09/15/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Garde, Jason, Lodden, Grant, Fan, Xiao Zhu, Kimmel, Danny Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolda, Eric L
• Application Number:
  US15/280,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20180088238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/26 by measuring the direct influence of the streaming fluid on the properties of a detecting optical wave
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/95 for meteorological use
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system includes a vehicle and a laser air data sensor, including a laser transceiver configured to transmit one or more laser light beams, mounted to the vehicle. In some embodiments, a window of the laser transceiver is fixed and oriented to transmit one or more laser light beams away from the vehicle and approximately parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle. In some embodiments, a window of the laser transceiver is fixed and oriented to transmit one or more laser light beams toward another portion of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the system further includes a processing device configured to control the laser air data sensor to attenuate the one or more laser light beams based on one or more operating parameters of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a vehicle; and

a laser air data sensor mounted to a first portion of the vehicle, wherein the laser air data sensor includes a laser transceiver and collection optics, wherein the laser transceiver is configured to transmit one or more laser light beams, wherein a window of the laser transceiver is fixed and oriented to transmit the one or more laser light beams toward a second portion of the vehicle, wherein the laser air data sensor is configured to measure an undisturbed airflow in a selected measurement region, wherein the selected measurement region is positioned between the window of the laser transceiver and the second portion of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the vehicle includes a light absorbing material, wherein the light absorbing material is non-reflective with respect to a wavelength of the one or more laser light beams, wherein the window of the laser transceiver is oriented to transmit the one or more laser light beams toward the light absorbing material on the second portion of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, wherein the first portion of the vehicle comprises a fuselage of the aircraft, wherein the second portion of the aircraft comprises a winglet of the aircraft.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, wherein the first portion of the aircraft comprises a wing of the aircraft or a winglet of the aircraft, wherein the second portion of the aircraft comprises a stabilizer of the aircraft or a fuselage of the aircraft.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, wherein the first portion of the aircraft comprises a stabilizer of the aircraft, wherein the second portion of the aircraft comprises a wing of the aircraft or a winglet of the aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, wherein the first portion of the vehicle comprises:

a fuselage of the aircraft; and

wherein the second portion of the aircraft is an engine inlet, wherein a measurement region of the laser air data sensor is between the laser transceiver and the engine inlet, wherein the measurement region is a sufficient distance from the engine inlet so air in the measurement region is undisturbed by the engine inlet during operation of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the laser air data sensor is flush mounted to a surface of the vehicle at the first portion of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises at least one processing device coupled to a memory, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to control the laser air data sensor to attenuate the one or more laser light beams based on one or more operating parameters of the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the laser air data sensor comprises a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) air data sensor.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the laser air data sensor is configured to sample a volume of freestream air in a selected measurement region.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle include at least one of:

a Weight on Wheels logic;

a geographic location of the vehicle;

a speed of the vehicle;

or

a stage of transportation of the vehicle.

9. A system, comprising:

a vehicle;

a laser air data sensor mounted to a first portion of the vehicle, wherein the laser air data sensor includes a laser transceiver and collection optics, wherein the laser transceiver is configured to transmit one or more laser light beams; and

at least one processing device coupled to a memory, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to control the laser air data sensor to attenuate the one or more laser light beams based on one or more operating parameters of the vehicle,

wherein the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle include at least one of;

a Weight on Wheels logic,

a location of the vehicle,

a speed of the vehicle, or

a stage of transportation of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle include at least one of:

a Weight on Wheels logic;

a location of the vehicle;

or

a stage of transportation of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein attenuate the one or more laser light beams comprises adjusting operation of the laser air data sensor to a low power mode.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein a window of the laser transceiver is fixed and oriented to transmit the one or more laser light beams toward a second portion of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second portion of the vehicle includes a light absorbing material, wherein the light absorbing material is non-reflective with respect to a wavelength of the one or more laser light beams, wherein the window of the laser transceiver is oriented to transmit the one or more laser light beams toward the light absorbing material on the second portion of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the laser air data sensor comprises a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) air data sensor.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the laser air data sensor is configured to sample a volume of freestream air in a selected measurement region.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the laser air data sensor is flush mounted to a surface of the vehicle at the first portion of the vehicle.