A system and method for generating air flight data for an aircraft includes a network of substantially flush-mounted sensor modules which generate flow rate information and/or static pressure information for the many of the aircraft's aerodynamic surfaces, preferably near the respective leading edges of the aerodynamic surfaces. The generated flow rate information and static pressure information are collected by a remotely-located controller. A processor calculates desired air flight data, including airspeed, aircraft altitude and airframe attitude information, based on the collected flow rate information and the static pressure information. Preferably, the processor selectively weights flow rate and static pressure information when calculating the desired air flight data such that flow rate information predominates at relatively low airspeeds and pressure information predominates at relatively higher airspeeds.
A measuring system for determining an air data for an aircraft includes a measuring device for determining measured variables which are a function of the resulting flow vector and the inertia forces acting on a front fuselage section in relation to a rear fuselage section, an acceleration transducer, and an evaluation unit for determining the air data from the measured variables. A storage unit has stored calibration curves for determining an appropriate set of air data by selecting that calibration curve which is most similar to a curve formed from the measured variables.
A sensor system includes an enclosure mounted externally on an aerial vehicle and a sensor chamber mounted internally within the aerial vehicle. The enclosure receives and converges air particles to cause inertial separation that transfers a first portion of the air particles to a first air transfer path and that causes a second portion of the air particles to bypass the first air transfer path. The first air transfer path transfers the first portion of the air particles from the enclosure to the sensor chamber. The sensor chamber includes at least one sensor that produces sensor data for the first portion of the air particles. A second air transfer path transfers the first portion of the air particles from the sampling chamber to the enclosure. The enclosure transfers the first portion of the air particles and the second portion of the air particles to the atmosphere.
An aerial sampler system includes an enclosure, a transfer system, and a measurement system. The enclosure is connected to an external surface of an aerial vehicle and receives atmospheric flow from the external surface of the aerial vehicle. The enclosure also directs at least some of the atmospheric flow into an aperture in the external surface. The transfer system transfers some of the atmospheric flow from the aperture to a measurement system. The measurement system is internal to the external surface of the aerial vehicle and measures atmospheric trace gases in the atmospheric flow.
An electrically heated cigarette smoking device includes a heater unit, heater blades for applying heat to portions of a cigarette that is supported within the heater unit, the heater unit having an opening adapted to receive an end of a cigarette and adapted to position the end of the cigarette in proximity to the heater blades, and the heater unit defining at least part of a suction flow passage through which ambient air is drawn into contact with the cigarette when a smoker draws on the cigarette positioned in the heater unit. The heater unit is mounted within a partition that positions the heater unit relative to the housing and at least partially defines a bypass flow passage in fluid communication with ambient air surrounding the housing, the partition further defining a flow diverting passage leading from the bypass flow passage to the suction flow passage and through which ambient air is drawn from the bypass flow passage when a smoker puffs on a cigarette inserted in the heater unit opening. A flow sensor is positioned in the flow diverting passage to provide a signal indicative of a smoker taking a puff on the cigarette.
A system for determining airspeed of an air vehicle is described which includes and airflow sensor and a processor. The airflow sensor is located within an airflow path extending substantially through the air vehicle, and the processor is configured to receive a signal relating to an airflow rate from the airflow sensor and output an airspeed based on the received signal.
