ADVANCED INTEGRATED SOLID STATE FLIGHT LOAD SENSORS

MODERN MICROELECTRONICS ARE MAKING POSSIBLE THE ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING OF EXTENSIVE FLIGHT DATA, BUT THE SENSORS FOR ACQUIRING SUCH DATA ARE UNSUITABLE FOR THE TASK, DUE TO THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSCEPTIBILITY, FRAGILITY, AND INCOMPATIBILITY WITH FIELD REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS. THUS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SENSORS AND ATTACHMENT METHODS FOR FLIGHT LOAD MONITORING IS AN URGENT PRIORITY. THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES THE APPLICATION OF SOLID-STATE (MICRO-SENSOR) TECHNOLOGY TO THE PROBLEM OF LOAD (STRAIN) MEASUREMENT ON HELICOPTERS.THE POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES OF MICROSENSORS IN THE HELICOPTER ENVIRONMENT INCLUDE: SMALL SIZE AND WEIGHT; INTEGRAL SIGNAL CONDITIONING AND PRE-PROCESSING; EASILY EMBEDDED IN OR MADE INTEGRAL WITH STRUCTURE, AND LOW COSTS ALLOW FOR GREATER COVERAGE AND REDUNDANCY. THESE ADVANTAGES CAN BE REALIZED IF A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM STRATEGY IS ADOPTED FOR STRUCTURAL LOAD MONITORING. SUCH AN INTEGRATED APPROACH IS PROPOSED.