Method and system for collecting air data using a laser-induced plasma channel

A method of measuring air data of an aircraft, the method comprising:

• emitting, by a laser disposed on the aircraft, laser light into air outside the aircraft, wherein the laser is tuned to induce a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) in the air;
• sensing, by a sensor system disposed on the aircraft, at least one property of the LIPC, comprising:
• capturing, using a camera disposed on the aircraft, at least one image of the LIPC;
• and
• detecting an intensity of the LIPC in the at least one image;
• and
• computing, by a computing device disposed on the aircraft, the air data of the aircraft based on the at least one property of the LIPC, comprising computing an air density of air outside the aircraft, wherein said computing the air density comprises applying, by the computing device, intensity-to-density calibration data to the detected intensity to obtain the air density, and wherein the intensity-to-density calibration data corresponds to a tuning of the laser.

A method of measuring air data of an aircraft, the method comprising:

• emitting, by a laser disposed on the aircraft, laser light into air outside the aircraft, wherein the laser is tuned to induce a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) in the air;
• sensing, by a sensor system disposed on the aircraft, at least one property of the LIPC;
• and
• computing, by a computing device disposed on the aircraft, the air data of the aircraft based on the at least one property of the LIPC, wherein the sensor system comprises a radar, and wherein said sensing the at least one property of the LIPC comprises emitting, by the radar, first radio waves toward the LIPC, and receiving, by the radar, second radio waves comprising at least a portion of the first radio waves reflected by the LIPC.

An air data system for measuring air data of an aircraft, the system comprising:

• a laser disposed on the aircraft;
• a beam trap disposed on the aircraft and configured to absorb the laser light emitted from the laser;
• a sensor system disposed on the aircraft, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one of a camera and a radar;
• and
• a computing device disposed on the aircraft and comprising at least one processor in electronic communication with the laser and the sensor system, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• cause the laser to emit laser light into air outside the aircraft between the laser and the beam trap, wherein the laser is tuned to induce a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) in the air;
• receive, from the sensor system, at least one property of the LIPC detected by the sensor system;
• and
• compute the air data of the aircraft based on the at least one property of the LIPC, wherein said computing comprises computing an air density of air outside the aircraft, wherein said computing the air density comprises applying, by the computing device, intensity-to-density calibration data to the detected intensity to obtain the air density, and wherein the intensity-to-density calibration data corresponds to a tuning of the laser.

An air data system for measuring air data of an aircraft, the system comprising:

• a laser disposed on the aircraft;
• a sensor system disposed on the aircraft and comprising a camera;
• and
• a computing device disposed on the aircraft and comprising at least one processor in electronic communication with the laser and the sensor system, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• cause the laser to emit laser light into air outside the aircraft, wherein the laser is tuned to induce a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) in the air;
• receive, from the sensor system, at least one property of the LIPC detected by the sensor system, wherein the at least one property includes at least one image of the LIPC captured using the camera;
• and
• compute the air data of the aircraft based on the at least one property of the LIPC, wherein the camera is configured to detect an intensity of the LIPC in the at least one image, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to compute an air density of air outside the aircraft based on the intensity by applying intensity-to-density calibration data to the detected intensity to obtain the air density, and wherein the intensity-to-density calibration data corresponds to a tuning of the laser.

An air data system for measuring air data of an aircraft, the system comprising:

• a laser disposed on the aircraft;
• a sensor system disposed on the aircraft;
• and
• a computing device disposed on the aircraft and comprising at least one processor in electronic communication with the laser and the sensor system, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• cause the laser to emit laser light into air outside the aircraft, wherein the laser is tuned to induce a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) in the air;
• receive, from the sensor system, at least one property of the LIPC detected by the sensor system;
• and
• compute the air data of the aircraft based on the at least one property of the LIPC, wherein the sensor system comprises a radar configured to emit first radio waves toward the LIPC induced by the laser and receive second radio waves comprising at least a portion of the first radio waves reflected by the LIPC.