Abstract: An aircraft windshield wiper system includes a wiper arm, a wiper blade coupled to a first end of the wiper arm, and an output shaft coupled to a second end of the wiper arm. The wiper blade includes a fluid dispensing system including nozzles, a fluid control unit, fluid lines, fluid source, and a user interface. The wiper blade with the fluid dispensing system is configured to dispense a variety of fluids directly from the wiper blade onto the windshield of an aircraft.

Abstract: A cover for a probe head of an air data probe includes a sleeve defining a cavity for enclosing a portion of the probe head of the air data probe, the sleeve including a closed end, an open end opposite the closed end, and an interior surface extending from the open end to the closed end, and a reservoir for holding insect repellent, the reservoir located at least partially within the cavity of the sleeve.

Abstract: An optical ice detector and airspeed probe includes an ice detection module and an airspeed module. The ice detection module detects the presence or absence of ice, water, or ice and water particles, and the airspeed module determines a line-of-sight speed along a directional vector, each based on backscatter light returns emitted from a common collimated light source. An electronics module determines an airspeed of an aircraft based on the line-of-sight speed determined by the airspeed module and at least one aircraft parameter received from the air data system.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant air data probe includes a hollow tube having at least one opening, an inner surface of the hollow tube defining an interior cavity, a heating element, and a continuous layer of a braze material. The heating element is disposed adjacent to the inner surface, within the interior cavity. The continuous layer of the braze material completely covers the heating element and covers at least a portion of the inner surface.

Abstract: A windscreen wiper system (WWS) architecture is provided. The WWS architecture includes a wiper assembly and an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to control operations of the wiper assembly. The ECU is configured to recognize that a command to engage a predefined wiper mode is received. The predefined wiper mode is characterized in that a windscreen is divided into sectors and the wiper assembly is controllably operated to sweep across one or more of the sectors in a predefined pattern with a predefined sweep speed. The ECU is further configured to control the wiper assembly to operate in the predefined wiper mode according to the command being received.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical icing conditions sensor includes transmitting a first light beam with a first transmitter and a second light beam with a second transmitter, thereby illuminating two illumination volumes. A first receiver receives the first light beam. A second receiver receives the second light beam. A controller measures the intensity of light received by the first and second receivers. The controller compares the intensities to threshold values and determines if either intensity is greater than the threshold values. The controller determines a cloud is present if either intensity is greater than the threshold values. The controller calculates a ratio of the intensities if a cloud is present. The controller determines, using the ratio, whether the cloud contains liquid water droplets, ice crystals, or a mixture of liquid water droplets and ice crystals.

Abstract: Systems and devices for angle of attack sensors are provided. Aspects include a vane, a faceplate, an annular region in the faceplate, and a thin film heater assembly attached to a surface of the annual region.

Abstract: A system for determining parameters of a cloud atmosphere within a wind tunnel. The system includes: a light projector configured to project a pulse of light energy into a projection field of view; at least one light detector having a detection field of view that forms a range-limited intersection with the projection field of view, the range-limited intersection having a maximum sampling range so as to exclude wall structures of the wind tunnel, wherein the at least one light detector is configured to detect a backscattered portion of the projected pulse of light energy backscattered from within the range-limited intersection; and a cloud parameter calculator configured to determine parameters of the cloud atmosphere based on the backscattered portions detected.

Abstract: A configurable windshield wiper system for a variable sweep angle and/or variable sweep speed. The system includes a bidirectional motor, a gearbox, the gearbox having and input shaft operably coupled to the motor and an output shaft; the gear box configured to ratiometrically step down the number of turns at its output shaft relative to its input shaft; a wiper arm for sweeping a surface of a windshield, the wiper arm operably coupled to an output of the gearbox; and a controller in operable communication with the motor, the controller configured to execute an algorithm to control the position and speed of the motor to achieve a configured sweep angle and configured sweep speed for the wiper arm.

Abstract: An angle of attack sensor includes a rotatable vane extending away and support from a mounting plate, a housing extending way from an opposite side of the mounting plate, and a sensor coupled to the vane. The angle of attack sensor communicates with an electronics module enclosed within the housing or mounted remotely with respect to the angle of attack sensor. The electronics module includes a processor, computer-readable memory, and a communication device. The computer-readable memory is encoded with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronics module to perform steps of a damage detection method.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system (WWS) is provided and includes a wiper blade assembly drivable along a first sweep angle, an internal wiper trigger disposed to move with the wiper blade assembly, a measurement system configured to monitor a position of the internal wiper trigger from which a corresponding position of the wiper blade assembly relative to the first sweep angle is measurable and to output a sweep angle feedback signal corresponding to monitoring results and a controller. The controller is receptive of the sweep angle feedback signal.

Abstract: A sensor includes an airfoil body, a heater element, and a temperature probe. The airfoil body defines a sensor axis and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an ice accretion feature. The heater element extends axially through the airfoil body between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the airfoil body. The temperature probe extends axially through the airfoil body between the heater element and the trailing edge of the airfoil body. The heater element is axially overlapped by the ice accretion feature to accrete ice chordwise forward of a tip surface aperture. Gas turbine engines, methods of making sensors, and methods of accreting ice on sensors are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aircraft windshield wiper system, having: a wiper arm; a reversible motor that drives the wiper arm, the motor including: a stator; a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator; a forward shaft segment that is driven by the rotor and being rotationally connected to the wiper arm; an aft shaft segment that is driven by the rotor, the aft shaft segment including a forward end and an aft end; a ball nut that translates along the aft shaft segment from rotation of the aft shaft segment; a forward stop at a forward end of the aft shaft segment, configured to stop forward translational motion of the ball nut along the aft shaft segment; and an aft stop at an aft end of the aft shaft segment, configured to stop aft translational motion of the ball nut along the aft shaft segment.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a Wheatstone bridge circuit including a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, and a fourth resistor having matching output characteristics. The pressure sensor further includes a first trim resistor in series with the Wheatstone bridge circuit, wherein the first trim resistor has output characteristics matching the output characteristics of the first resistor, the second resistor, the third resistor, and the fourth resistor of the Wheatstone bridge. The pressure sensor additionally includes a second trim resistor in parallel or a parallel loop with the Wheatstone bridge circuit, wherein the second trim resistor has output characteristics matching the output characteristics of the first resistor, the second resistor, the third resistor, and the fourth resistor of the Wheatstone bridge.

Abstract: An angle of attack sensor includes a vane assembly and a multi-piece faceplate adjacent the vane assembly. The faceplate includes a heated chassis defining a pocket and a mounting plate positioned adjacent the heated chassis and having an opening. The vane assembly has a portion that is positioned in the pocket of the heated chassis and extends through the opening of the mounting plate.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to predicting failure and/or estimating remaining useful life of an air-data-probe heater. Failure is predicted or useful life is estimated based on an electrical metric of the electrical operating power provided to a resistive heating element of the air-data-probe heater. The electrical metric of the air data probe heater is one or more of: i) phase relation between voltage across the resistive heating element and leakage current, which is conducted from the resistive heating element to a conductive sheath surrounding the resistive heating element; ii) a time-domain profile of leakage current through the heating element insulation during a full power cycle; and/or iii) high-frequency components of the electrical current conducted by the resistive heating element and/or the voltage across the resistive heating element.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments for a system having an avionics system that is configured to dynamically communicate one or more configurable parameters of a wiper and wash system based at least in part on a selected mode, and an avionics bus that is configured to communicate dynamic parameters from the avionics system. The system also includes a wash system having a fluid reservoir and fluid level sensor, and a wiper system including a control unit (ECU) that is configured to operate the system based at least in part on the one or more configurable parameters, wherein the wiper system is coupled to the wash system and supplies the wash fluid to the wiper system. Also provided are embodiments of a method for performing dynamic control of the aircraft windscreen wiper and wash system configuration parameters.

Abstract: A hybrid heater system for an aircraft air data sensor includes a voltage source and a first hybrid heater set. The first hybrid heater set includes a carbon nanotube (CNT) heater, a first positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater disposed in parallel with the CNT heater to form a parallel formation, and a second PTC heater disposed in series between the voltage source and the parallel formation.

Abstract: An air data system with a digital interface includes least one air data component, a receiving system and at least one digital connection. The at least one digital connection is between the receiving system and the air data component. A method for transmitting data in an air data system with a digital interface includes measuring at least one air data parameter with at least one air data component. The method includes generating a digital signal representative of the at least one air data parameter with the at least one air data component, sending the digital signal to a receiving system, and processing the at least one air data parameter with the receiving system.

Abstract: An air data probe includes a probe head defining a longitudinal axis between a forward tip and aft base. A port opening is defined in the forward tip. A first conduit is in fluid communication with the port opening to guide fluid flow from the port opening to a first chamber. The first chamber is downstream from the port opening. A second conduit, offset radially and circumferentially from the first conduit, is in fluid communication with the first chamber to guide fluid flow from the first chamber to a second chamber. The second chamber is downstream from the first chamber. The offset between the first and second conduits is configured to prevent particle ingestion from the port opening from entering the second conduit.