ROLLING DEFLECTION AND ELEVATION SENSOR

AN INNOVATIVE, AUTOMATIC METHOD FOR RAPIDLY AND ACCURATELY MAPPING RUNWAY LOAD DEFLECTION TOPOGRAPHY IS PROPOSED. THIS TECHNIQUE FEATURES A STATIONARY PROPRIETARY ELEVATION REFERENCE AND ROVING SENSOR. THE SYSTEM MAPS THE DEFLECTION OF THE TESTED SURFACE USING A LOADED WHEEL. BECAUSE THE SYSTEM PROVIDES A LEVEL REFERENCE PLANE, DIRECT DEFLECTION MEASUREMENT OVER LARGE PORTIONS OF A RUNWAY CAN BE MEASURED IN A CONTINUOUS FASHION. THE ROVING SENSOR ACQUIRES ALL DEFLECTION AND POSITIONAL INFORMATION IN REAL-TIME FOR SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS BY A STANDARD MICROCOMPUTER. THE FINAL OUTPUT IS USED FOR RUNWAY REPAIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT. THE LOADED SENSOR WHEEL ON THE ROVER CAN BE ADJUSTED TO SIMULATE A RANGE OF DEFLECTION LOADINGS. THE SENSOR COULD BE A SELF-PROPELLED AUTOMATIC ROBOT. THIS SYTEM DIRECTLY MEASURES DEFLECTION (NOT RADIUS OR CURVATURE), IS LOW IN TECHNICAL RISK, AND COULD USE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE COMPONENTS FOR A LOW COST-TO-DEVELOP SYSTEM.