A Wireless Sensor System for a Vehicle

Abstract

The invention is a wireless sensor and telemetry system for use on a vehicle such as an aircraft including at least one sensor node, a gateway, a user control system, data management and analytics means, wherein the sensor node is capable of sensing at least one type of operational performance or structural condition parameter data for the vehicle. Sensor node is attached to the vehicle in a specific location so that the data acquired gives information to the users of the system that relates to the operational performance or structural condition of the vehicle during operation. The sensor node wirelessly transmits the data it acquires to the gateway. The user control system enables person/s, to remotely operate and control the wireless sensor and telemetry system, by sending wireless operational control instructions to the system either via the gateway or directly to a particular sensor node or to a cluster of sensor nodes.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor and telemetry system for use on a vehicle such as an aircraft including: at least one sensor node, and a gateway, and a user control system, and data management and analytics means, wherein the at least one sensor node is capable of sensing at least one type of operational performance or structural condition parameter data for the vehicle, and the at least one sensor node is attached to the vehicle in a specific location so that the data it acquires gives useful and valuable information to the users of the system that relates to the operational performance or structural condition of the vehicle during the vehicle's operation, and wherein the at least one sensor node is capable of wirelessly transmitting the data it acquires to the gateway, and wherein the user control system enables a person, or persons, to remotely operate and control the wireless sensor and telemetry system, by sending wireless operational control instructions to the system either via the gateway, or directly to a particular sensor node, or to a cluster of sensor nodes.

2. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein the gateway is capable of receiving operational control signals and thereby configuring the wireless sensor and telemetry system in accordance with the received operational control signals, and the gateway is capable of alerting a person, or persons, if any one of the at least one sensor node, or the gateway itself, is no longer capable of functioning within acceptable operational parameters, and wherein the gateway is capable of receiving the acquired data from all the sensor nodes in the system, and it is capable of storing that acquired data or streaming that acquired data via a telemetry system, either continuously, or in batches, to a person or persons within the vehicle, or remote from the vehicle.

3. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 2 wherein the gateway includes: sensor node control and data communication means, and data storage memory means, and data communication and telemetry means, accurate time keeping means, and a GPS system, and a remote user interface, and wherein the gateway has a unitary body with an autonomous power supply, and is capable of controlling and communicating with any or all of the sensor nodes in the system, and transferring data to and from any of the sensor nodes in the system via the sensor node control and data communication means, and wherein the data storage memory means is capable of centrally and securely storing the sensor data acquired by the sensor node, and is capable of either continuously transmitting that acquired data via the telemetry system, or transmitting it in batches, and wherein the accurate time keeping means provides central time synchronisation to the entire system, including all the sensor nodes, and the gateway itself, so that all recorded events and other information acquired by the operation of the system is accurately logged and date stamped for the purposes of data management and analysis, and wherein the GPS system continuously monitors the position of the vehicle, and works in conjunction with the accurate time keeping means, so that relevant recorded events and other information acquired by the operation of the system includes accurate position co-ordinates for the purposes of data management and analysis, and wherein the remote user interface enables a person or persons to manage the operation of the wireless sensor and telemetry system, and the person or persons may be located either within or remote from the vehicle, or a combination of both.

4. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor node comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and weights, and may include one or more sensors within the node that are each capable of acquiring a specific type of data relating to the operational performance of, or structural condition of, the vehicle, and wherein the appropriate sensor node type is selectable from a plurality of available sensor node types so that the sensor node can be attached to the vehicle either internally to the vehicle's frame, or upon the outer skin of the vehicle, depending upon the particular types(s) of operational performance or structural condition of the vehicle that is being monitored by the sensor(s) in the sensor node.

5. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 4 wherein the sensor nodes that are selected from the plurality of available sensor node types, for use on any of the control surfaces of the vehicle, feature light weight and a low profile construction, so as to not significantly interrupt the operational performance of the vehicle during its operation.

6. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the sensor nodes used in the system work in conjunction with fastening means that is designed to enable a particular sensor node type to be attachable to, and subsequently removed from, the vehicle, without damaging the vehicle's outer surface, surface coating, or its frame, and wherein the fastener means enables each sensor type to be fastened to, or removed from, the vehicle within an acceptable amount of time, without the need for special tools, or for the vehicle to be moved to a specialised installation or removal location.

7. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein each sensor node type includes wireless data transmission and receiving means, and these means enable the particular sensor node to operate in accordance with specific operational instructions given to it from the gateway, or directly from a remote management system, and to transmit the sensor data it acquires while in use, to the gateway, or directly to the remote management system.

8. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein each sensor node type has an autonomous power supply.

9. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 4 wherein each sensor node is capable of determining in real time what the most appropriate sensor within the particular node is at any particular time during the operation of the vehicle, so that the best quality data can be acquired by that sensor node at any given time.

10. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 4 wherein at least one of the types of sensor nodes that is selectable from the range of sensor nodes, includes a flexible body that enables the sensor to be shaped so that it closely conforms to the surface shape of the part of the vehicle to which it has been fastened to.

11. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 9 wherein each sensor node is able to self-calibrate each of the sensors associated with it and report any sensor that is not functioning within acceptable performance parameters as pro-set, or subsequently set, by the operator of the system.

12. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein each sensor node is modular, thereby allowing an operator to provision a sensor node with at least one sensor type, so that the node is capable of acquiring a pre-determined set of sensor data that conforms with the type of test(s) being conducted during the operation of the vehicle.

13. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein each sensor node may include heating means so that the temperature of the sensors within the node does not drop below a set minimum temperature.

14. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 3 wherein the user interface used by a crew on-board the vehicle, or any external remote user interface, includes a graphical user interface.

15. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 3 wherein the remote user interface for the on-board sensor system and telemetry system includes at least one computer, and wherein a remote operator or operators can wirelessly communicate with, and manage the operation of, the sensor and telemetry system using the at least one computer, and wherein the remote management system allows the remote operator or operators to communicate directly with the gateway, or each sensor node in the sensor and telemetry system.

16. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 15 wherein the remote user interface enables the management of all aspects of the operation of the sensor and telemetry system, including, but not limited to: a. the sampling rate per sensor or sensor node, and/or b. the synchronisation of sensors, and/or c. sensor and/or sensor node naming and clustering, and/or d. the sampling program, and/or e. the acceptable operational parameters per sensor and/or sensor node, and/or f. system events handling, and/or g. the data transmission rates, and/or h. the power output, and/or i. the RF frequencies used for data transfers within the system and the telemetry system and other wireless communication parameters, and/or j. the data storage parameters including formats and encryption to be used, and/or k. the data transmission formats and interface speeds, and/or l. the system power, including power supply status for all sensor nodes in the system, or individual sensors, and the gateway, and/or m. providing error and alert monitoring for all sensor system components, and/or n. memory utilisation.

17. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is able to wirelessly communicate in real-time on up to 150 channels in deployed sensors nodes simultaneously, as well as accepting live streaming data from these nodes at sample rates suitable for high performance vehicle testing.

18. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 17 wherein the system is able to buffer data in the event of a loss of wireless communications, and transmit the buffered data when wireless communication resume, while maintaining data integrity.

19. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor system is powered by the vehicle's power supply system.

20. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor system is autonomously powered, with respect to the vehicle's power supply system.

21. The wireless sensor and telemetry system as defined in claim 6 wherein at least one of the sensor node types is suitable for use while mounted to an external surface of the vehicle during operation at supersonic speeds up to Mach 2.

22. A method of providing a sensor and telemetry system to a vehicle including the steps of: selecting at least one suitable wireless sensor node from a plurality of sensor node types, wherein each sensor node type is adapted to house at least one type of sensor, and affixing the selected sensor node to a suitable location on a vehicle's body, either internally or upon the outer surface of the vehicle, and providing a gateway that receives real-time sensor data wirelessly from the at least one sensor node, and providing a user control system that enables a user, who is either remotely located from the vehicle, or is an occupant of the vehicle, to send wireless command and control signals to the sensor node, or to a particular sensor type housed within the sensor node.

23. The method as defined in claim 22 further including a step of enabling the gateway to condition monitor the operational performance of the system, including each of the sensor nodes, and the sensor types housed within each one, the status of the wireless sensor real-time data transmission, so that an alert may be generated if any of the components within the system is no longer capable of functioning within acceptable operational parameters.

24. The method as defined in claim 22 further including a step of providing the gateway with storage means that enables the gateway to store the acquired data it receives from the sensor nodes, and wirelessly streaming it, either in batches, or continuously, to a user of the system, or to store the acquired data, in the event of a loss of wireless communications between the gateway and the user interface, and resume the data transmission once the communication link is restored.

25. The method as defined in claim 22 further including a step of providing the system with an accurate GPS and time keeping system so that all data acquired has its associated location and time data recorded in the system.

26. The method as defined in claim 22 further including a step of providing at least one type of sensor node with a deformable housing that thereby allows a user to deform the housing to make the sensor node as low profile as possible, and to enable the shape of the deformation to closely match the contours of the surface upon which the sensor node is affixed.

27. The method as defined in claim 22 further including a step of providing a fastening means that is adapted to enable a sensor node to be affixed to, and subsequently removed from, a surface on the vehicle, without either degrading the surface material, or any coating applied thereto, and without the need for special tools, or for the need to move the vehicle to a specialized installation or removal location.

28. The method as defined in claim 22 further including the step of providing the system with an autonomous power supply system.

29. The method as defined in claim 22 further including a step of providing the system with the wireless transmission means to enable up to 150 channels in deployed sensor nodes to simultaneously wirelessly communicate in real-time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] FIG. 1 is a top view of a typical high performance vehicle with an array of sensors and ancillary equipment installed in accordance with the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a typical vehicle, in this example an aircraft, in flight and showing the wireless data communications.

[0075] FIG. 3 is a schematic of a couple of sensors attached to the leading edge of an aircraft wing, and also a sensor attached to the surface of a control surface for the aircraft.

[0076] FIGS. 4-7 are various embodiments of a wireless sensor nodes used in conjunction with the wireless sensor system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0077] It must be noted that an aircraft has been chosen purely as an example of a suitable type of high performance vehicle. Any type of high performance vehicle is suitable for this invention.

[0078] In FIG. 1, we can see a schematic of the wireless sensor and telemetry system that is the subject of the present invention. to We can see the top view of an aircraft 1 that includes a gateway 3, in this embodiment carried under starboard wing, and a plurality of sensor nodes 5. The gateway 3 and each sensor node 5 is wirelessly connected together for two-way data communication. This two-way communication may be directly between an individual sensor node 5 and the gateway 3, or a cluster of sensor nodes 5 and the gateway 3. In this view we are also shown a cockpit mounted sensor system monitoring and management interface 7.

[0079] In FIG. 2 we are shown another schematic of the overall sensor system. The aircraft 1 has a plurality of sensor nodes 5 fitted to strategic positions on the airframe and on flight control surfaces. Each sensor node, and/or clusters of sensor nodes are in two-way wireless communication with the sensor gateway 3, this time located under the port wing of the aircraft. The sensor gateway 3 is designed to fit to a standard ordinance/equipment mounting point on the aircraft's airframe. The sensor gateway 3 is in two-way wireless communication with the cockpit mounted management interface 7, and with at least one remote monitoring and sensor system management interface 9 that is located remotely from the aircraft. The remote management interface 9 can be any suitable computer device, such as a personal computer, tablet or other mobile computing device. The two-way communication between the sensor gateway 3 and the remote management interface 9 can be direct, or where the distance between the aircraft 1 being tested, and the remote interface 9 is too great to make direct communication practical, then the signal can be relayed via at least one of ground base relay stations 11, and/or a nearby relay aircraft 13, or an orbiting satellite 15.

[0080] The two-way data communication allows either the pilot and/or remote monitoring personnel to adjust the condition of the sensor system and at least some of the sensor nodes. The logic control means within the sensor gateway 3 is able control the operation of each of the sensor nodes 5. Such control signals may be to switch the sensor from a low power mode to high power mode for example, or it may turn sensors off when they are not needed to preserve power to the sensor node 5 or the sensor gateway 3. In another example, either of the management interfaces 7 or 9 may change the sensor frequency during different phases of the flight test so that more useful data can be obtained and analyzed. The monitoring and management interfaces 7 and 9 are each capable of receiving system error messages, and receiving alerts when any of the sensors within the system go outside of acceptable performance parameters. Furthermore, authorised personnel monitoring the system remotely can also transmit software and firmware updates to the system, even while the aircraft is in flight.

[0081] Turning to FIG. 3, we can see some illustrations of a typical sensor node 5 that are shown by way of example here on the leading edge of a wing, or on a control surface of the aircraft. Sensor nodes 5 that may be used in high velocity and/or high load locations, particularly on high performance aircraft, may be housed in a package that is able to be deformed into a shape that provides the sensor node 5 with minimal disruption to the airflow across the airframe, wing or control surface. In this way, each sensor node 5 can be manipulated by the installer so that it closely conforms with the contour of the portion of the aircraft onto which it is applied.

[0082] Additionally, similar sensor nodes may be housed in a deformable package that allows them to be attached to other types of moving parts on a vehicle. The deformation of the housing enables the sensor node to have a low profile that conforms to the surface contours of the object it is affixed to. Examples of such moving parts include, by way of example only, a blade, or blades, of a rotary wing aircraft, or a drive shaft, or an axle on a high performance automobile.

[0083] Finally turning to FIGS. 4 to 5, we see a variety of illustrations of possible sensor node designs. In FIG. 4 we are shown one embodiment wherein the sensor node 5 includes an antenna 17 that enables the two-way wireless communication, as well as a sensor node battery 19. In FIG. 5, the battery has been replaced by a solar panel 21. In FIG. 6, we are shown another form of one aspect of the invention wherein the power supply for the sensor node 5 is provided by a wind turbine 23. Finally, in some installation, it may be possible for the sensor node 5 to be wired into the aircrafts power supply system via wires 25.

[0084] While the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction and arrangement of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention.

[0085] It will be also understood that where the word comprise, and variations such as comprises and comprising, are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features.

[0086] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.