Blade angle position feedback system with embedded markers

An aircraft-bladed rotor system, comprising:

• a rotor rotatable by a shaft about an axis, the rotor having blades with adjustable blade pitch angle;
• a feedback device comprising an annular-shaped body and a plurality of position markers enclosed in the body, the plurality of position markers spaced around a circumference of the body, the body made of a first material having a first magnetic permeability and the plurality of position markers comprising a second material having a second magnetic permeability being greater than the first magnetic permeability the feedback device comprising a surface having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, and a plurality of axial grooves formed in the body and extending from the first edge to the second edge, the plurality of axial grooves configured to receive the second material therein to form the plurality of position markers, and at least part of each position marker of the plurality of position markers is welded in a corresponding axial groove of the plurality of axial grooves;
• and
• at least one sensor configured for producing at least one sensor signal in response to detecting a relative movement between the plurality of position markers and the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor signal indicative of the blade pitch angle of the blades.

A method for providing feedback for an aircraft-bladed rotor, the aircraft-bladed rotor rotatable about an axis and having blades with adjustable blade pitch angle, the method comprising:

• receiving at least one sensor signal from at least one sensor positioned adjacent a feedback device, one of the feedback device and the at least one sensor coupled to rotate with the rotor and to move along the axis with adjustment of the blade pitch angle, the feedback device comprising an annular-shaped body having a plurality of position markers embedded therein, the plurality of position markers spaced around a circumference of the body, the body made of a first material having a first magnetic permeability and the plurality of position markers comprising a second material having a second magnetic permeability greater than the first magnetic permeability, the feedback device comprising a surface having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, and a plurality of axial grooves formed in the body and extending from the first edge to the second edge, the plurality of axial grooves configured to receive the second material therein to form the plurality of position markers, and at least part of each position marker of the plurality of position markers is welded in a corresponding axial groove of the plurality of axial grooves, the at least one sensor signal produced by the at least one sensor in response to detecting passage of the plurality of position markers as the one of the feedback device and the at least one sensor rotates about the axis;
• and
• processing the at least one sensor signal to generate a feedback signal indicative of the blade pitch angle of the rotor.