US 2017/0284856 A1 · AIRCRAFT WEIGHT ESTIMATION

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method for aircraft weight estimation is provided that includes determining a weight signal based on a dynamic pressure signal, a calibrated angle of attack signal, a lift coefficient signal, a load factor signal, and a wing surface area. In another embodiment, a method to estimate aircraft weight is provided that includes determining a weight based on historical flight data relating horizontal control surface position to dynamic pressure. In another embodiment, a system for continuously estimating aircraft weight during flight is provided that includes a pitot-static subsystem, an angle of attack indicator, an accelerometer, a controller configured to provide a weight signal, and a signal filter for filtering the weight signal to determine a stable aircraft weight.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for aircraft weight estimation, comprising:

providing a dynamic pressure signal from a pitot-static subsystem;
determining a calibrated angle of attack signal from an angle of attack indicator;
determining a lift coefficient signal based on the calibrated angle of attack signal and a Mach number;
providing a load factor signal from an accelerometer;
and
determining a weight signal based on the dynamic pressure signal, the calibrated angle of attack signal, the lift coefficient signal, the load factor signal, and a wing surface area.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/407,903Filed 17 Jan 2017

Priority

31 Mar 2016

Published

5 Oct 2017

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G01G 19/07
For weighing wheeled or rolling bodies, e.g. vehicles: for weighing aircraft
B64F 5/60
Designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; Handling, transporting, testing…
G01P 5/16
By measuring differences of pressure in the fluid: using Pitot tubes , e.g. Machmeter
G01P 13/025
Indicating direction only, e.g. by weather vane: indicating air data, i.e. flight variables of an aircraft, e.g. angle of attack, side slip,…

Aircraft weight estimation

Life of this patent

Aircraft weight estimation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17