US 6,446,015 B1 · Method and apparatus for flight data acquisition using an optimized multiple frequency waveform

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method and apparatus that generates a waveform consisting of an arbitrary number of frequency sweeps combined from adding and subtracting mini frequency sweeps. Optimization routines determine the best combination order of frequency sweep to minimize or maximize design criteria such as aerodynamic surface deflection or maximum command rate of the wave form. The invention allows for arbitrary output timing, or commands per second issued for the desired waveform, arbitrary starting and ending frequencies and amplitudes, arbitrary number of frequency sweep components, arbitrary frequency sweep exponent, arbitrary amplitude sweep exponent, and arbitrary waveform length. For a given frequency range and sweep exponent, amplitude range and sweep exponent, desired total waveform time and number of frequency sweep components, the algorithm can determine the optimum arrangement of the components to minimize the maximum amplitude or rate.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for reducing the amount of time to obtain flight data for a frequency sweep comprising the steps of:

a) generating a given frequency sweep for a given flight condition;
b) dividing the frequency sweep into a discrete number of frequency stacks;
c) combining the discrete frequency stacks in a plurality of manners;
d) selecting an optimized waveform from the combinations of discrete frequency stacks, where said optimized waveform is of a shorter duration than said frequency sweep;
and
e) outputting a selected criteria based on said optimized waveform.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for flight data acquisition using an optimized multiple frequency waveform

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for flight data acquisition using an optimized multiple frequency waveform

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13