Abstract: To improve measurement or assessment of fatigue damage to parts, a computer-implemented method for measuring striation properties of fatigue striations on a sample surface of a part is disclosed. A sample surface is imaged using a scanning electron microscope to obtain a sample image potentially containing the fatigue striations. A sample image patch potentially containing fatigue striations is selected from the sample image. After normalizing the sample image patch and enhancing line-like regular structures contained in the sample image patch, the normalized image patch is autocorrelated, Radon transformed and spectrally analyzed. The resulting power spectrum of the transformed image patch contains information about striation properties of the fatigue striations contained in the sample image, if any fatigue striations are present. Furthermore, a system for performing the method is disclosed.

Abstract: The method includes a step of acquisition of an image of the leading aircraft, a step of extraction of the outline, an adjustment step including implementing an outline registration algorithm, to determine an optimized profile from a comparison of the outline of the leading aircraft with a profile of the leading aircraft determined from a three-dimensional model of the leading aircraft and from an initial position of the following aircraft with respect to the leading aircraft, and a step of determination of the positioning according to six degrees of freedom of the following aircraft with respect to the leading aircraft, from the optimized profile and from the three-dimensional model of the leading aircraft. The method thus makes it possible to rapidly and accurately determine the positioning of the following aircraft with respect to the leading aircraft, this positioning being used to implement a formation flight.

Abstract: A method for determining, onboard a first mobile entity, a level of trust for a second mobile entity in communication with the first mobile entity, and a communication system implementing the method are described. The method includes determining), by the first mobile entity, direct trust data, calculating an initial reputation indicator based on the direct trust data, including a belief value, a disbelief value, an uncertainty value, and a base trust rate, calculating a confidence level based on the belief value, the base trust rate, and the uncertainty value, and determining an updated reputation indicator based on the initial reputation indicator and the confidence level. The base trust rate is indicative of the trust level for data transmitted from an unknown mobile entity not in contact with the first mobile entity. The updated reputation indicator indicates a level of trust of the first mobile entity in the second mobile entity.

Abstract: A semi-active noise control system includes a layer configured to be part of an interior panel of an aircraft The layer includes conductive tracks, a driver arrangement, tuned mass dampers, and sensors. Each tuned mass damper has an eigenfrequency that depends on a control signal applied to the tuned mass damper and is connected to the driver arrangement via a conductive track and configured to receive control signals from the driver arrangement. Each sensor is connected to the driver arrangement via a conductive track and is configured to sense vibrations and/or acoustic sounds and send measurement signals to the driver arrangement. The driver arrangement is configured to analyze the measurement signals and to generate and send control signals to the tuned mass dampers such that the eigenfrequency of the tuned mass dampers is matched with the frequency of the vibrations and/or acoustic sounds sensed by the sensors.

Abstract: A pump arrangement for providing a saturated or subcooled liquid includes a tank for saturated liquid, a heat exchanger for cooling the saturated liquid, a pump, an expansion valve, and an output for feeding saturated or subcooled liquid to a consumer. A tank outlet is in fluid communication with a liquid inlet of the heat exchanger, such that saturated liquid stored inside the tank can flow into the heat exchanger designed to sub-cool the saturated liquid. A liquid outlet of the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with a pump inlet. The expansion valve outlet is in fluid communication with a coolant inlet of the heat exchanger. An expansion valve inlet is arranged for receiving and expanding a fraction of liquid flowing through the pump arrangement and routing it into the coolant input to at least partially evaporate and receive evaporation enthalpy of the liquid to be subcooled.

Abstract: A laser communication system for an aircraft has optical head units, separate laser transmitting unit, laser receiving unit, optical fiber for each optical head unit, optical switching device for coupling an optical head unit and a separate laser transmitting unit, and a central control unit, the optical head units connected to the optical switching device through the optical fiber, the optical head units having an optical axis, parallel to which light is emitted or received, and an optical pointing mechanism for adjusting the respective optical axis. The separate laser transmitting unit has a laser. The control unit connects to the optical switching device, laser transmitting unit, laser receiving unit and optical head unit to control a laser based data communication through coupling an optical head unit, which is in a free line of sight to a target outside the aircraft, to the laser transmitting unit and to modulate operation of the laser transmitting unit for emitting a signal.

Abstract: A braking system and a method for applying one or more aircraft wheel brakes according to at least one of a plurality of wheel brake control functions are disclosed. The method includes receiving an indication of an aircraft speed from an aircraft speed indicator, controlling a wheel braking operation of the aircraft according to at least a first wheel brake control function if the aircraft speed indicated by the aircraft speed indicator exceeds a speed threshold, and controlling the wheel braking operation of the aircraft according to at least a second wheel brake control function if the aircraft speed does not exceed the speed threshold. Also disclosed is an aircraft including one or more aircraft wheel brakes and the disclosed braking system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data scheduling and queuing. A data network node is configured to transmit data in a store-and-forward fashion. The data network node includes a delay and validity determination module that determines and assigns a validity value to each data packet incoming via an input port based on a time stamp of the data packet, a current time value, an expected delay on a route of the data packet to its destination, and a packet urgency value. A scheduling module and a queue managing module execute their functions based on the validity value assigned to a data packet in a transmission buffer.

Abstract: A system and method benefiting from cameras and digital hardware already installed on an aircraft in order to manage the images in the best possible manner according to the different flight phases. The visual display system in an aircraft includes a vision device to acquire a current image stream around the aircraft, and a processor to retrieve the current image stream from the vision device and to launch a current viewing application around the aircraft which is compatible with the current mobility phase of the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft including: a wing having a leading edge; an electric motor mounted on the wing; and an electric power cable in the wing for providing power to the electric motor, wherein the electric power cable runs through a duct in the wing; the duct comprises an air inlet and an air outlet; and the electric power cable is cooled by air passing through the duct between the air inlet and the air outlet.

Abstract: A routing device for forwarding data packets in a data network is described. The routing device establishes a communicative connection with multiple other such routing devices that implement the same functions. A data network includes multiple routing devices as described herein. In that data network, each routing device implements and applies a proactive approach with routing tables in a stable part of the data network, and a reactive approach in an unstable part of the data network. When a packet is transmitted from a stable part of the data network to an unstable part of the data network (or vice versa), the forwarding approach is changed along the path of the packet. Thus, the routing device and the data network mitigate the effect of overhead of proactive routing approaches and the latency of reactive routing approaches.

Abstract: A system to estimate the good distribution of loading onboard an aircraft capable of carrying out a target mission. The system includes at least one operability index determination module, a module for verifying whether the distribution of loading onboard the aircraft is considered to be a good distribution by comparing the operability index of the target mission with a predetermined operability index threshold. The determination of the operability index makes it possible to know whether the aircraft can carry out a target mission in good conditions.

Abstract: A system includes antennas to receive satellite signals, modems for managing data received from the antennas, and a switching unit for managing the allocation and the transmission of the data from the various antennas to the various modems, the data from any one of the antennas being able to be allocated and transmitted to any one of the modems, the system thus being able to adapt the allocation of the data such that each modem is able to continue to receive data relating to signals transmitted by one and the same satellite upon a change of position of the antennas, thereby making it possible to maintain communication to one or more given satellite communication services.

Abstract: A gripping device for a panel of a section of a fuselage of an aircraft, the panel including a skin and having an arcuate shape about a longitudinal axis X. The gripping device includes two gripping subsystems arranged at a distance from one another parallel to the longitudinal axis X, and each gripping subsystem includes a central element fastened to the panel, and two lateral elements fastened on either side of the central element by fasteners, and each lateral element includes pressurizers which come against the skin to apply a tension thereto in the opening direction of the arcuate shape. Such a gripping device makes it possible to ensure the shape of the panel when it is transported and until it is fastened to other panels in order to produce the section of the fuselage.

Abstract: A joining method and assembly for an aircraft. To improve the characteristics or permit hitherto impossible connections between thermoplastic and thermoset components, a multi-material joining method is disclosed in which a thermoplastic connecting region is formed on the thermoplastic component. The connecting region is connected to the thermoset component by interdiffusion. For this purpose, the uncured second component is brought into contact with the connecting region and heat is supplied. An interdiffusion layer is formed which fixedly connects the second component and the connecting region to one another and thus joins the first component to the second component.

Abstract: A method and system allowing fully autonomous automatic take-off using only images captured by cameras on the aircraft and avionics data. The system includes an image capture device on the aircraft to take a stream of images of the runway, image processing modules to estimate, on the basis of the streams of images, a preliminary current position of the aircraft on the runway and to assign a preliminary confidence index to the estimate. A data consolidation module can determine a relevant current position of the aircraft on the runway by consolidating data originating from the image processing modules with inertial data to correct the estimate of the preliminary current position and determine a relevant confidence index using a current speed of the wheels of the aircraft to refine the preliminary confidence index. A flight control computer can control and guide aircraft take-off.

Abstract: To improve the range of application of manufacturing methods for fiber-reinforced polymer or metal hybrid composite components, and preferably to enable the introduction of fiber bundles into a larger number of geometries, such as branches, merging points and intersections, a production method for producing a component including a composite material with a fiber reinforcement which is formed from fiber bundles and resin is disclosed. A component body with tube-like cavities is initially provided. Curable resin is introduced into the cavities. A pulling apparatus for the fiber bundles is also inserted into at least one of the cavities. The pulling apparatus includes at least one pulling member suitable for pulling the fiber bundles and transmitting compressive force. As a result of pulling of the pulling member, the fiber bundles are pulled into the cavities.

Abstract: A system for estimating junction temperatures of a power semiconductor module includes a constant current source to apply constant drain current to a drain terminal of a power semiconductor device, an adjustable gate voltage source to apply a gate voltage signal to a gate terminal, a drain-source voltage sensor between the drain terminal and the source terminal and configured to measure a value of the current drain-source voltage across the power semiconductor device and output a corresponding drain-source voltage signal, a gate controller to determine a difference between the drain-source voltage signal and a constant reference voltage and control output of the adjustable gate voltage source dependent on the determined difference, and a system controller to switch the power semiconductor device to its fully conducting state and to estimate junction temperature within the power semiconductor device in dependency from the on-state resistance in the fully conducting state.

Abstract: A method for operating a node in a communications network for coordinating transmissions of different nodes in the network to improve coordination of communication between network nodes. The node includes a validity state and estimation module, wireless state monitor module, wireless configuration space module, and wireless configurator module. The VSE assigns a data validity value to a data packet and/or to a transmission buffer of the node. The data validity value reflects the usefulness of the data packet for an application and is preferably age based. The WSM gathers physical transmission property data indicative of transmission properties of a communication link provided by the network between the node and another node. The WCS determines a parameter configuration space amenable for transmitting the data packet via the communication link and the WCON sets corresponding transmission parameters based on the data validity value and physical transmission property data.

Abstract: A floor structure for an aircraft includes a rail that defines a recess having an opening and a bottom and designed to receive one or more attachment elements, a covering element arranged above a segment of the recess so as to provide a complementary bearing surface above the opening, and a cellular supporting structure having a first end that rests on the bottom of the recess, and a second end supporting the covering element. Thus, the covering element can be sufficiently thin to avoid or limit the formation of steps at the surface of the floor structure.