Abstract: Improvements to ice protection systems as disclosed herein include monitoring ice accretion intensity based on atmospheric conditions proximate to a vehicle. Examples of parameters that measure atmospheric conditions include a water content and a size distribution of an atmosphere around a vehicle. These parameters, along with other vehicle parameters, are used to control at least one ice protection element to reduce ice accretion intensity at one or more designated locations of the vehicle. Incorporating measurements of cloud conditions enables nuanced control of the ice protection system and improves overall system efficiency of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system comprises an optical air data system that measures aerosol and molecular scattering of light, and an optical instrument that measures aerosol and/or molecular scattering of light. A processor receives data from the air data system and from the optical instrument. The processor performs one or more signal analysis and data fusion methods comprising: (a) determining aerosol and/or molecular concentration from the received data, modifying a data analysis algorithm to optimize any remaining unknown parameters, and outputting enhanced air data parameters; (b) determining aerosol concentration from the received data, dynamically optimizing hardware settings in the air data system to enhance a signal level and avoid system saturation, and outputting enhanced air data parameters; or (c) determining aerosol and/or molecular concentration from the received data, estimating a confidence level of an air data algorithm, verifying optical health of the air data system, and reporting the optical health to a user.

Abstract: Improvements to ice protection systems as disclosed herein include monitoring ice accretion intensity based on atmospheric conditions proximate to a vehicle. Examples of parameters that measure atmospheric conditions include a water content and a size distribution of an atmosphere around a vehicle. These parameters, along with other vehicle parameters, are used to control at least one ice protection element to reduce ice accretion intensity at one or more designated locations of the vehicle. Incorporating measurements of cloud conditions enables nuanced control of the ice protection system and improves overall system efficiency of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system comprises a particle sensor unit in communication with a processor. The sensor unit comprises a source that transmits light into an interrogation region; receive optics that collect scattered light from particles in the interrogation region; and an optical detector that receives the collected light from the receive optics. The detector comprises a sample area including one or more sampling pixels, and an edge region including one or more edge pixels. The processor analyzes intensity data from the detector by a method comprising: combining all intensity data from the sampling pixels; adding the combined intensity data to a data set; determining whether to accept overlap intensity data that corresponds to an overlap between the sampling pixels and the edge pixels; adding the overlap intensity data to the data set if accepted; discarding the overlap intensity data if not accepted; and discarding all non-overlapping intensity data from the edge pixels.

Abstract: A system comprises a particle sensor assembly, which includes a light source that transmits a light beam into an external interrogation air region; a set of receive optics that provides a receive channel, the receive optics configured to collect a scattered portion of the light beam from a particle in the interrogation air region; and an optical detector that receives the collected scattered portion. The optical detector measures a signal intensity as a function of time from the scattered portion, with the signal intensity indicating a particle size and a signal duration indicating motion of the particle through the interrogation air region. A processor is in communication with the optical detector and is operative to determine a transit time of the particle through the interrogation air region based on the signal duration, and compute an airspeed based on parameters comprising the transit time and a size of the light beam.

Abstract: A system for determining a vehicle operating state is provided. The system includes at least two particle detectors, a controller and a memory. A sample volume used by each particle detector of the at least two particle detectors configured to be collected in a different location relative to the vehicle than another sample volume used by another particle detector of the at least two particle detectors and at least one sample volume is configured to be collected in an environment where particles are disturbed by the vehicle. The controller is configured to determine at least one operating state of the vehicle based at least in part on a comparison of output signals of the at least two particle detectors. The at least one memory is used to store at least operating instructions implemented by the controller in determining the at least one operating state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system comprises an optical air data system that measures aerosol and molecular scattering of light, and an optical instrument that measures aerosol and/or molecular scattering of light. A processor receives data from the air data system and from the optical instrument. The processor performs one or more signal analysis and data fusion methods comprising: (a) determining aerosol and/or molecular concentration from the received data, modifying a data analysis algorithm to optimize any remaining unknown parameters, and outputting enhanced air data parameters; (b) determining aerosol concentration from the received data, dynamically optimizing hardware settings in the air data system to enhance a signal level and avoid system saturation, and outputting enhanced air data parameters; or (c) determining aerosol and/or molecular concentration from the received data, estimating a confidence level of an air data algorithm, verifying optical health of the air data system, and reporting the optical health to a user.

Abstract: An air data method and system are disclosed. In one implementation, the method comprises obtaining one or more data measurements from an interrogation region with at least one light detection and ranging (LiDAR) unit along at least one line of sight. The method further comprises sending the one or more data measurements to a processor operative to perform data processing. The data processing includes extracting one or more shock front distances from the one or more data measurements, and calculating one or more shock front angles from the one or more shock front distances. The data processing further includes calculating one or more air data parameters from the one or more shock front angles.

Abstract: A system comprises a particle sensor unit in communication with a processor. The sensor unit comprises a source that transmits light into an interrogation region; receive optics that collect scattered light from particles in the interrogation region; and an optical detector that receives the collected light from the receive optics. The detector comprises a sample area including one or more sampling pixels, and an edge region including one or more edge pixels. The processor analyzes intensity data from the detector by a method comprising: combining all intensity data from the sampling pixels; adding the combined intensity data to a data set; determining whether to accept overlap intensity data that corresponds to an overlap between the sampling pixels and the edge pixels; adding the overlap intensity data to the data set if accepted; discarding the overlap intensity data if not accepted; and discarding all non-overlapping intensity data from the edge pixels.

Abstract: A particle detection system is provided. The particle detection system comprises at least one transmitter; at least one receiver; a first interrogation volume formed by a first intersection of a first pair of a transmitter beam of a transmitter and a receiver field of view of a receiver; and a second interrogation volume formed by a second intersection of a second pair of a transmitter beam of a transmitter and a receiver field of view of a receiver.

Abstract: A system comprises a particle sensor assembly, which includes a light source that transmits a light beam into an external interrogation air region; a set of receive optics that provides a receive channel, the receive optics configured to collect a scattered portion of the light beam from a particle in the interrogation air region; and an optical detector that receives the collected scattered portion. The optical detector measures a signal intensity as a function of time from the scattered portion, with the signal intensity indicating a particle size and a signal duration indicating motion of the particle through the interrogation air region. A processor is in communication with the optical detector and is operative to determine a transit time of the particle through the interrogation air region based on the signal duration, and compute an airspeed based on parameters comprising the transit time and a size of the light beam.

Abstract: A particle detection system is provided. The particle detection system comprises at least one transmitter; at least one receiver; a first interrogation volume formed by a first intersection of a first pair of a transmitter beam of a transmitter and a receiver field of view of a receiver; and a second interrogation volume formed by a second intersection of a second pair of a transmitter beam of a transmitter and a receiver field of view of a receiver.