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Innovative Method for Aircraft Gross Weight and Center of Gravity Estimation
Navy SBIR FY2011.2
| Sol No.: |
Navy SBIR FY2011.2 |
| Topic No.: |
N112-114 |
| Topic Title: |
Innovative Method for Aircraft Gross Weight and Center of Gravity Estimation |
| Proposal No.: |
N112-114-0854 |
| Firm: |
Innovative Design & Technology Ltd.
P. O. Box 2099
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906 |
| Contact: |
Trevor Slack |
| Phone: |
(765) 497-3921 |
| Abstract: |
The objective of this proposal is to develop a physics based model for determining the center of gravity of both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The location of the center of gravity is critical for the ability of an aircraft to take off and sustain flight. When an aircraft is loaded improperly, its center of gravity (CG) will shift creating instability during takeoff, flight and landings. If the aircraft is properly instrumented, the effects of the loading process can be monitored to ensure that the center of gravity location remains within an acceptable region of the aircraft.
In aircraft applications, any additional weight or maintenance time represent an unacceptable increase in operational costs and decrease in availability. To limit the measurement burden of the required load sensing system, several commercially available wireless strain gages will be used to properly identify the location of the center of gravity of the unloaded and loaded aircraft. Due to their small size and weight, a telemetry system will eliminate the need for wires. Various techniques (inductive coupling, solar cell, etc.) will be investigated to eliminate the need for batteries in the telemetry system. With the batteries removed, the required upkeep of the sensing system will be nearly eliminated.
The sensing of distributed load through the use of strain gages will be demonstrated via the use of a custom made aircraft fuselage simulator test rig (FSTR). Strain gages will be installed on supports which serve as the landing gear of the aircraft. A finite element model of the FSTR will be created to corroborate the experimental and analytical results, as well as to aid in the determination of physics based algorithms for the estimation of the center of gravity location.
ID&T expects that the results will show that commercially available telemetry systems can be an effective means for measuring strain and that array strain measurements can be used to accurately identify the location and magnitude of the aircraft center of gravity. The system can also be used to monitor the drift in the location of the center of gravity during the loading process of an aircraft.
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| Benefits: |
The anticipated outcome of this research and development endeavor will be a physics based algorithm and complimentary sensing technology that can accurately and repeatedly determine the center of gravity of unloaded and loaded fixed and rotary wing aircraft on ground and in flight. Commercially available strain telemeters coupled with intelligent physics based software can be used to critically examine and provide in-situ knowledge of the center of gravity of each aircraft.
The sensor technology coupled with CG software will be a viable product for both military and commercial applications. Once the sensing system and software have been developed and tested under various conditions in test rigs as well as actual aircrafts it will be offered to the commercial sector. ID&T will develop a licensing agreement with commercial companies interested in the technologies being developed. It is anticipated that during Phase I of this project that such an agreement will be signed or developed between ID&T and commercial aircraft manufactures most likely Sikorsky, Boeing, etc. As our technology matures and our clients' needs grow, ID&T will continue to further develop and enhance the technology to specifically address the needs of each individual client. It is envisioned that ID&T will be the major producers of intelligent hardware and software for CG application sfor aircraft applications.
The first target market for the technology developed under this program will be military aircraft and space systems. The incorporation of strain telemeters and smart software for condition monitoring and CG determination of military and commercial aircraft will significantly improve the safety and availability of these aircraft as well as reduce the cost by eliminating catastrophic failures.
Virtually all aerospace industries will benefit from the technology to be developed under this technology development program. Intelligent knowledge of CG for space based applications will increase the capability of the spacecraft by reduceing down time and accidents. ID&T has developed close collaboration with the aerospace industry for more than a decade. ID&T will sell the technology developed under this program to military (Navy, AF, Marines, etc.) and commercial aircraft OEMs such as Boeing, Airbus, Sikorsky, etc.
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