Systems and methods for enabling charged (ionized) air mass measurement for reliable air data computation onboard an aircraft. Ionic charge sensing may be used to derive air data having improved reliability. The systems and methods for ionic charge sensing employ an emitter electrode and two or more collector electrodes, which electrodes are disposed in proximity to the exterior skin of the aircraft and exposed to ambient air. The emitter electrode is positioned forward of the collector electrodes. The system further includes a solid-state ionic air data module that converts currents from the collector electrodes into air data parameter values. More specifically, the ionic air data module is configured to sense currents induced in the collector electrodes in response to corona discharge produced by the high-voltage emitter electrode.

A sensor includes an emitter electrode at a first position and exposed to a fluid airflow. The emitter electrode generates charged particles proximate the emitter electrode. The sensor includes an array of collector electrodes at a second position and exposed to the fluid airflow. Each collector electrode of the array of collector electrodes detects a current associated with an electric field of the charged particles during relative movement of the fluid airflow. The array of collector electrodes includes a first collector electrode aligned with the emitter electrode at a reference position, a first set of collector electrodes angularly offset from the first collector electrode in a first direction, and a second set of collector electrodes angularly offset from the first collector electrode in a second direction. Outputs from the array of collector electrodes indicate an angular direction of the relative movement of the fluid airflow.

A sensor includes an emitter electrode at a first position and exposed to a fluid airflow. The emitter electrode generates charged particles proximate the emitter electrode. The sensor includes an array of collector electrodes at a second position and exposed to the fluid airflow. Each collector electrode of the array of collector electrodes detects a current associated with an electric field of the charged particles during relative movement of the fluid airflow. The array of collector electrodes includes a first collector electrode aligned with the emitter electrode at a reference position, a first set of collector electrodes angularly offset from the first collector electrode in a first direction, and a second set of collector electrodes angularly offset from the first collector electrode in a second direction. Outputs from the array of collector electrodes indicate an angular direction of the relative movement of the fluid airflow.

A sensor includes an emitter electrode configured to be disposed at a first position and exposed to a fluid airflow. The emitter electrode is configured to generate charged particles proximate the emitter electrode via a voltage pulse. The sensor includes a collector electrode configured to be disposed at a second position and exposed to the fluid airflow. The second position is aft of the first position. The collector electrode is configured to detect a current associated with a flow of the charged particles during relative movement of the fluid airflow. The sensor includes one or more processors coupled to the emitter electrode and the collector electrode, wherein the one or more processors are configured to measure a duration between the voltage pulse and the current, and wherein the duration is indicative of a speed of a vehicle.