Laser airspeed measurement sensor incorporating reversion capability

An air data system for an aircraft comprising:

• a first laser emitter;
• a first laser receiver;
• and
• an electronics module comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• computer-readable memory encoded with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronics module to:
• emit, using the first laser emitter, a first coherent light pulse into a first target volume aft of the aircraft within an engine exhaust flow of the aircraft;
• receive, at the first laser receiver, a first backscatter light return from the first light pulse interacting with the first target volume;
• determine, using the electronics module, a first air data parameter based on the first backscatter light return and at least one of an engine parameter indicative of an engine condition of the aircraft and an aircraft parameter indicative of a state of the aircraft;
• output the first air data parameter to a consuming system of the aircraft;
• emit, using the first laser emitter, a second coherent light pulse into a second target volume forward of the aircraft;
• receive, at the first laser receiver, a second backscatter light return from the second light pulse interacting with the second target volume;
• determine, using the electronics module, a second air data parameter based on the second backscatter light return;
• and
• output the second air data parameter to the consuming system of the aircraft.

An air data system for an aircraft comprising:

• a first laser emitter;
• a first laser receiver;
• a second laser emitter;
• and
• a second laser receiver;
• an electronics module comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• computer-readable memory encoded with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronics module to:
• emit, using the first laser emitter, a first coherent light pulse into a first target volume aft of the aircraft within an engine exhaust flow of the aircraft;
• receive, at the first laser receiver, a first backscatter light return from the first light pulse interacting with the first target volume;
• determine, using the electronics module, a first air data parameter based on the first backscatter light return and at least one of an engine parameter indicative of an engine condition of the aircraft and an aircraft parameter indicative of a state of the aircraft;
• output the first air data parameter to a consuming system of the aircraft;
• emit, using the second laser emitter, a second coherent light pulse into a second target volume forward of the aircraft;
• receive, at the second laser receiver, a second backscatter light return from the second light pulse interacting with the second target volume;
• determine a second air data parameter based on the second backscatter light return;
• and
• output the second air data parameter to the consuming system of the aircraft.