Apparatus and method for verifying operation of air data probes

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing at least one processor to execute a process, the process comprising:

• receiving measured air pressure data, including a measured noise level over frequency from each air data probe on a vehicle, wherein the measured noise level is generated by a vehicle's propulsion system;
• receiving a first set of data from at least one other sensor on the vehicle;
• determining a predicted noise level over frequency for each air data probe with a noise modelling system using the received first set of data, wherein the noise modelling system comprises a noise model based upon air data probe design, vehicle's propulsion system characteristics, and other sensor type;
• determining a difference between the predicted noise level and the measured noise level for each air data probe, wherein each air data probe is configured to measure total pressure or static pressure;
• determining if any air data probe is faulty by determining if the determined difference of any of the air data probe is greater than a first threshold value, wherein an air data probe is deemed faulty if difference between the predicted noise level and the measured noise level is greater than the first threshold value;
• and
• if the determined difference of any air data probe is greater than the first threshold value, then performing at least one of:
• (a) generation of a signal to alert at least one vehicle system that at least one air data probe is faulty, (b) generation of a signal to alert a crew of the vehicle that at least one air data probe is faulty, and (c) determination of a weighted average air pressure for all air data probes, wherein the measured air pressure data of any faulty air data probe has a lower weighting than air pressure data of any non-faulty air data probes.

A system, comprising:

• at least two air data probes of a vehicle;
• an air data monitoring system, of the vehicle, coupled to the at least two air data probes;
• at least one of a propulsion system of the vehicle and a directional control system;
• at least one other sensor, of the vehicle, coupled to the at least one of a propulsion system and a directional control system;
• at least one input/output device (I/O);
• and
• a state machine of the vehicle, comprising a noise modelling system, coupled to the air data monitoring system, the at least one other sensor, and the at least one I/O, is configured to:
• receive measured air pressure data, including a measured noise level over frequency, measured by each air data probe, wherein the measured noise level is generated by a vehicle's propulsion system;
• receive a first set of data measured by the at least one other sensor on the vehicle;
• determine, with the noise modelling system, a predicted noise level over frequency for each of the at least two air data probes with a noise modelling system using the received first set of data, wherein the noise modelling system comprises a noise model based upon air data probe design, vehicle's propulsion system characteristics, and other sensor type;
• determine a difference between the predicted noise level and the measured noise level for each of the at least two air data probes, wherein each air data probe is configured to measure total pressure or static pressure;
• determine if any of the at least two air data probes are faulty by determining if the determined difference of any of the at least two air data probes is greater than a first threshold value, wherein an air data probe is deemed faulty if its difference between the predicted noise level and the measured noise level is greater than the first threshold value;
• and
• if the difference between the predicted noise level and the measured noise level of any of the at least two air data probes is greater than the first threshold value, perform at least one of:
• (a) generation of a signal to alert at least one vehicle system that at least one air data probe is faulty, (b) generation a signal to alert, with the at least one I/O, vehicle crew or at least one vehicle system that at least one air data probe is faulty, and (c) determination of a weighted average air pressure for all air data probes, wherein the measured air pressure data of any faulty air data probe has a lower weighting than air pressure data of any non-faulty air data probes.