Automated fault isolation of flight control surfaces and damage detection of aircraft through non-contact measurement

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• monitoring, by a system operatively coupled to a processor and via execution of a plurality of sensors, a wing of an aircraft and a flight control surface of the wing, wherein the plurality of sensors are positioned at a plurality of respective vantage points on the aircraft to obtain full coverage of the wing;
• assessing, by the system and via execution of a machine learning algorithm, a condition of the wing and the flight control surface, wherein the machine learning algorithm receives as input data that is produced by the plurality of sensors;
• and
• detecting, by the system and via execution of a spectrometer, fuel leaks or hydraulic fluid leaks, wherein the spectrometer is positioned on a downstream outer surface of the wing and is configured to monitor airflow for traces of fuel or hydraulic fluid.

A computer program product for facilitating automating fault isolation of flight control surfaces and damage detection of aircraft, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

• monitor, via execution of a plurality of sensors, a wing of an aircraft and a flight control surface of the wing, wherein the plurality of sensors are positioned at a plurality of respective vantage points on the aircraft to obtain full coverage of the wing;
• assess, via execution of a machine learning algorithm, a condition of the wing and the flight control surface, wherein the machine learning algorithm receives as input data produced by the plurality of sensors;
• and
• detect, via execution of a spectrometer, fuel leaks or hydraulic fluid leaks, wherein the spectrometer is positioned on a downstream outer surface of the wing and is configured to monitor airflow for traces of fuel or hydraulic fluid.