Embodiments of methods and apparatus for close formation flight are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of operating aircraft for flight in close formation includes establishing a communication link between a first aircraft and a second aircraft, assigning to at least one of the first aircraft or the second aircraft, via the communication link, initial positions relative to one another in the close formation, providing flight control input for aligning the first and second aircraft in their respective initial positions, tracking, by at least one aircraft in the close formation, at least one vortex-generated by at least one other aircraft in the close formation, and based on the tracking, providing flight control input to adjust a relative position between the first aircraft and the second aircraft.

Embodiments of methods and apparatus for close formation flight are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of operating aircraft for flight in close formation includes establishing a communication link between a first aircraft and a second aircraft, assigning to at least one of the first aircraft or the second aircraft, via the communication link, initial positions relative to one another in the close formation, providing flight control input for aligning the first and second aircraft in their respective initial positions, tracking, by at least one aircraft in the close formation, at least one vortex-generated by at least one other aircraft in the close formation, and based on the tracking, providing flight control input to adjust a relative position between the first aircraft and the second aircraft.

A method of displaying a predicted state of a medical apparatus, and a medical apparatus employing the method are disclosed. The method comprises receiving a sensor signal from a sensor of the medical apparatus, filtering the sensor signal by an adaptive filter such that a predicted signal is achieved, determining a state from the predicted signal, and displaying an indication through a user interface of the medical apparatus based on the determined state.

A travelable distance calculation apparatus comprises: an update device 72 for recording a measured remaining fuel amount value, and also sequentially updating the recorded value; a calculation device 73 for calculating a travelable distance based on the remaining capacity of a battery and the recorded value; and a display device 80 for displaying at least the travelable distance. During a period when an engine 13 is stopped, the update device 72 holds, as the recorded value, a value recorded during operation of the engine 13.

A fluid monitoring system for monitoring a volume of a fluid source. The system includes a flow sensor coupled to a fluid line in hydraulic communication with the fluid source. The system includes a fluid monitor having a unit counter configured to: receive a flow signal from the flow sensor; and transmit a unit signal to a processor based on the flow signal and an adjustable unit value. The processor configured to determine a remaining volume value of the fluid source based on a first volume value and the unit signal. The monitor configured to calibrate the remaining volume value through adjustment of the unit value via a first set of binary rotary switches and adjustment of the first volume value via a second set of binary rotary switches. The system further includes a control panel having a plurality of flow monitors in communication with a plurality of flow sensors.

A method for alternative fuel life-cycle tracking includes electronically receiving, at a remote server, fuel data of fuel in a first container. The fuel comprises first and second batches. The fuel data includes first and second sets of alternative fuel identifiers (AFIs) associated with, respectively, a first unit of the first batch and a second unit of the second batch. The method further includes electronically receiving, at the remote server, a transfer volume of the fuel being transferred to a second container. The method further includes electronically transferring, at the remote server, first and second subsets, respectively, of the first and second sets of AFIs to be associated with the second container. The transfer of the first and second subsets is based on the transfer volume and a proportion of the first unit to the second unit.

A method for alternative fuel life-cycle tracking includes electronically receiving, at a remote server, fuel data of fuel in a first container. The fuel comprises first and second batches. The fuel data includes first and second sets of alternative fuel identifiers (AFIs) associated with, respectively, a first unit of the first batch and a second unit of the second batch. The method further includes electronically receiving, at the remote server, a transfer volume of the fuel being transferred to a second container. The method further includes electronically transferring, at the remote server, first and second subsets, respectively, of the first and second sets of AFIs to be associated with the second container. The transfer of the first and second subsets is based on the transfer volume and a proportion of the first unit to the second unit.

A system includes a concentration sensor, a flow sensor, and a controller. The concentration sensor is configured to measure a concentration of a contaminant in a cabin of an aircraft. The flow sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of air into the cabin. The controller is configured to determine whether a concentration measurement of the contaminant in the cabin exceeds a first concentration threshold. The controller is configured to, in response to determining that the concentration measurement does not exceed the first concentration threshold, control the flow rate of air into the cabin based on a flow rate setpoint. The controller is configured to, in response to determining that the concentration measurement exceeds the first concentration threshold, control the flow rate of air into the cabin based on a flow rate setpoint and a correction factor that is based on a flow sensor tolerance.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for dynamically calculating a total fuel uplift quantity for an aircraft scheduled to fly a flight route. In one aspect, a method comprises: (a) polling a plurality of sources to receive data indicative of: (i) real-time weather conditions in remaining flight sectors in the flight route, and (ii) delay information in the remaining sectors; (b) calculating for the remaining sectors a respective fuel consumption factor; (c) based on (i) respective fuel quotations in the remaining sectors, (ii) the real-time weather conditions, and (iii) the delay information, generating a linear model for calculating a respective fuel uplift quantity at arrival stations in the remaining sectors; (d) calculating using the linear model the respective fuel uplift quantity at the arrival stations; and (e) periodically performing operations (a)-(d) to update a calculation of the respective fuel uplift quantities to account for changing factors.

An HVAC system includes a blower, a motor drive, and a controller. A benchmark rate of the flow of air provided by the blower and a corresponding benchmark power output of the motor drive associated with operation of the blower at a test condition are received. The controller determines a first motor drive frequency at which the motor drive is operating. Based on the benchmark rate and a comparison of the first motor drive frequency to the predefined motor drive frequency, a first rate of the flow of air provided by the blower is determined. At a later time, a current power output of the motor drive is determined during operation of the blower at the test condition. Based on a comparison of the current benchmark power output to the benchmark power output, an updated benchmark rate of the flow of air provided by the blower is determined.