The Boeing Company

Bruce Van Deventer

Nima Forghani

Erik L Godo

David W Foutch

Raymond W Huggins

David T Yamamoto

Glen E Miller

Steven Elliot Smith

John F Gonder

Mervin E Eaton

Jeffrey S Siegmeth

A method of automated timing of engine startup for an aircraft is provided. The method comprises receiving data inputs regarding a number of factors influencing a time to departure for the aircraft and receiving data inputs regarding a number of factors influencing time to start and set takeoff power for a number of engines on the aircraft. An engine startup countdown is calculated based on a comparison of a nominal time to departure with a nominal minimum time to start and set takeoff power for the engines, wherein the nominal time to departure is based on the first data inputs and the nominal minimum time to start and set takeoff power is based on the second data inputs. Upon completion of the countdown an engine start signal is sent.

Efficient engine start

An aircraft tow vehicle and methods of towing an aircraft are disclosed. An aircraft tow vehicle comprises an aircraft structural interface configured to couple to a wheel assembly of a main landing gear of an aircraft; and an aircraft towing propulsive force system configured to propel the aircraft forward when the aircraft structural interface is coupled to the wheel assembly.

Aircraft tow vehicles and methods of towing an aircraft

Brake control systems are disclosed herein. A brake control system comprises a first set of analog-to-digital converters in electrical communication with a first set of brake input mechanism sensors and a second set of analog-to-digital converters in electrical communication with a second set of brake input mechanism sensors. The first and second sets of analog-to-digital converters comprise one or more of different hardware and different software for differentially manipulating sensor outputs received from the brake input mechanism sensors.

Aircraft brake control systems

An augmented reality system and methods of indicating at least one of a status or a movement of vehicles within an environment are presented. An augmented reality system comprises a number of vehicles within an environment and an augmented reality device configured to receive the data from the number of vehicles and present augmented reality information in association with a live view of the environment in the augmented reality device using the data from the number of vehicles and an environment model. The number of vehicles is configured to output data comprising at least one of a current position, an objective, a vector, a current movement status, a vehicle type, or a current power status. The augmented reality information comprises indicators associated with at least one of movement of the number of vehicles or status of the number of vehicles.

Augmented reality system and methods for indicating movement or status of a number of vehicles within an environment

Methods and means for reducing wear in electric or electro-hydraulic braking systems utilizing an adjustable (adaptive) filter, wherein the adaptive filter provides for rapid response during anti-skid operation and a smooth and filtered response during non-anti-skid operation.

Vehicle braking system having braking control and skid reduction functions

Described herein is a self-powered system for detecting a current spike. The current spike is delivered through a current return network that energizes a resonant circuit to produce an alternating electrical output. The output is rectified by a rectifier into direct output that is then transferred to an integrator circuit. The integrator circuit slowly builds to and dissipates from a voltage threshold corresponding to an output transistor. When the output transistor is triggered by the voltage threshold this trigger is communicated to a fault monitoring software that recognizes the current spike.

Method and apparatus for detecting a lightning strike

A system for controlling an electronically actuated brake is described. The system includes a plurality of brakes controlled by an electronic brake control unit, a brake pedal, momentary switch contact, and a latching relay. When the brake pedal is deflected beyond a threshold and the momentary switch contact are engaged the electronic brake control unit will communicate to the brakes to change their state between on and off. The present state is saved in the latching relay even when power is removed from the system.

System and method for controlling an electronic brake

A loop resistance tester (LRT) for shield integrity testing comprising three elements: a &ldquo;drive&rdquo; current coupler, a &ldquo;sense&rdquo; current coupler, joint probes, and an instrument assembly. A low-power excitation current is sent from the instrument into the drive coupler, which is essentially a transformer. This induces a current in the electrical cable under test, as long as that cable and the connected structure form a continuous current path, or loop. This induced loop current is detected by the &ldquo;sense&rdquo; current coupler (transformer) and is measured by the instrument. The ratio of the loop voltage to loop current, as phasor values, gives the complex loop impedance, the real part of which is the loop resistance.

Loop resistance tester (LRT) for cable shield integrity

An alignment insensitive optical position sensor produces a signal indicative of the position of an element in respect to a monitoring point. The position sensor (50, 100, 120, 180, 200) includes a light source (56, 126) that provides a test light and a reference light of different wavelengths. The test light and reference light are conveyed through an optical fiber (68, 128) and collimated by a lens (70, 110, 144) along a path toward an encoded track or surface (72, 102, 138, 152, 204, 206). The encoded track or surface includes a plurality of metallic dots (74, 104, 140, 154) that are of varying size and/or density to produce a variable reflectivity. The encoded surface also includes an interference filter (76, 106) that reflects the reference light, but transmits the test light, due to the differences in their wavelengths. The reflected test light and reference light are conveyed to a light detector (84, 148, 162) that determines the ratio of the intensity of reflected test light to the intensity of reflected reference light. This ratio is indicative of the relative position of the encoded surface. In several of the embodiments of the alignment insensitive position sensor, the test light and reference light are split along two paths and directed toward separate encoded surfaces that include metallic dots applied in symmetrically inverse relationship in respect to density and/or size. The sum of the ratios of the intensities of reflected test light and reference light for each of these two encoded surfaces should thus be proportional to a constant value, unless a fault has occurred in the position sensor. A processor (168) determines the ratio of the intensities of reflected test light and reference light from each of the encoded surfaces, and determines the sum of the two ratios in order to detect any failure of the position sensor.

Alignment insensitive optical position sensor

A light transmission filter for transmitting a beam of light of any wave length. The filter is made up of a pattern of opaque figures positioned along a transparent substrate. The spacing between figures is varied along the substrate so that the beam of light intercepted by the filter is variably transmitted as a selected function of the longitudinal position of the filter relative to the beam of light. The spacing of the figures along the substrate is selected to achieve a light transmission characteristic for the film in accordance with a desired mathematical function. An optical analog position sensor for sensing the position of a movable member along a prescribed path including the optical transmission filter attached to the movable member with the substrate having a longitudinal configuration corresponding to the prescribed path. The intensity of a fixed beam of light transmitted through the filter indicates the position of the member.

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Lynnwood, WA, United States of America

Bruce Van Deventer