SMART ANGLE ATTACK AND ANGLE OF SIDESLIP SENSOR

VIRTUALLY ALL FLIGHT VEHICLES REQUIRE THE ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF ANGLE OF ATTACK (ALPHA); THOSE UNDER-GOING FLIGHT TESTING AND SOME COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT ALSO MAKE USE OF INFORMATION ON ANGLE OF SIDESLIP (BETA). EXISTING ANGLE MEASUREMENT METHODS HAVE LIMITATIONS THAT MAKE THE MEASUREMENT OF ALPHA AND BETA IMPOSSIBLE UNDER CERTAIN FLIGHT CONDITIONS. SOME OF THESE SENSORS HAVE POOR DURABILITY AND CAN BE SENSITIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CONCEPT STUDIED IN THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED TO OVERCOME THESE LIMITATIONS. IT INVOLVES THE USE OF MINIATURE, SOLID-STATE TRANSDUCERS TO DETECT CHANGES IN DIFFERENTIAL MASS FLOW AS THE FLOW ANGLE VARIES. INCLUDED IS A MICROPROCESSOR USED AS AN INTERFACE TO PROVIDE CORRECTIONS AND LINEARIZATION OF THE OUTPUT SIGNAL. PHASE I CONSISTED OF STUDIES AND CONCEPT VERIFICATION USING A TWO-DIMENSIONAL MODEL WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF VARIATIONS IN SHAPE. LOW-SPEED FLOW TESTING INDICATED SENSITIVITY TO THE SHAPE OF THE INSTRUMENT HOUSING THAT REQUIRES FURTHER RESEARCH.