Preventing asynchronous rotation in aircraft components with retroreflectors

A processor-implemented method for preventing asynchronous rotation in aircraft components, the method comprising:

• emitting radiant flux from an optical emitting source towards a retroreflector when the retroreflector is disposed on a rotating component operably connected to an engine and the engine is operating to position the rotating component into a field of view of the optical emitting source;
• receiving an incident radiant flux from the retroreflector by an optical receiver when the retroreflector is within the field of view of the optical emitting source;
• recording a time of receiving the incident radiant flux by the optical receiver from the retroreflector;
• determining a rotational speed of the rotating component based on the recorded time of receiving the incident radiant flux;
• determining whether the rotational speed is within a predetermined range;
• and
• selectively changing a state of the engine when rotational speed is outside of the predetermined range.

An aircraft including a system for preventing asynchronous rotation in aircraft components, the aircraft comprising:

• an electronics housing disposed on the aircraft, the electronics housing including an optical emitting source configured to provide radiant flux and an optical receiver;
• a retroreflector configured to be disposed on a rotating component operably connected to an engine of the aircraft;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory, including instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor cause the system to:
• emit radiant flux from the optical emitting source towards the retroreflector when the retroreflector is disposed on the rotating component and the engine is operating to position the rotating component into a field of view of the optical emitting source;
• receive incident radiant flux from the retroreflector by the optical receiver when the retroreflector is within the field of view of the optical emitting source;
• record a time of receiving the incident radiant flux by the optical receiver from the retroreflector;
• determine a rotational speed of the rotating component based on the recorded time of receiving the incident radiant flux;
• determine whether the rotational speed is within a predetermined range;
• and
• selectively change a state of the engine when the rotational speed is outside of the predetermined range.