System and method for determining a skew level
A system and method for determining a skew level of a movable control surface in an aircraft. A position of an inboard and outboard side of the movable control surface are determined by RFID readers and RFID tags. As the tags move past the readers, the positioning of each side of the movable control surface may be compared to determine the skew level. Actions can be taken if the skew level exceeds predetermined threshold values.
1. A method for detecting skew in a movable control surface of an aircraft, the method comprising:
moving a first plurality of RFID tags relative to a first RFID reader, wherein each RFID tag from the first plurality of RFID tags is associated with a pre-determined position of an inboard side of the movable control surface;
detecting each RFID tag as each RFID tag passes the first RFID reader;
determining a position of the inboard side of the movable control surface based on a most recently detected RFID tag from the first plurality of RFID tags;
moving a second plurality of RFID tags relative to a second RFID reader, wherein each RFID tag from the second plurality of RFID tags is associated with a pre-determined position of an outboard side of the movable control surface;
detecting each RFID tag as each RFID tag passes the second RFID reader;
determining a position of the outboard side of the movable control surface based on a most recently detected RFID tag from the second plurality of RFID tags; and,
comparing the position of the inboard side of the movable control surface to the position of the outboard side of the movable control surface to determine a skew level.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of RFID tags are moved and wherein the first RFID reader is stationary, relative to the first plurality of RFID tags.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first RFID reader is moved and wherein the first plurality of RFID tags are stationary, relative to the first RFID reader.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing the detected RFID tag from the first plurality of RFID tags with a database comprising each RFID tag and the pre-determined position of that RFID tag.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
comparing the detected RFID tag from the second plurality of RFID tags with a database comprising each RFID tag and the pre-determined position of that RFID tag.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each RFID tag in the first plurality is programmed with the pre-determined position of that RFID tag.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each RFID tag in the second plurality is programmed with the pre-determined position of that RFID tag.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing the skew level to a first skew threshold; and
when the skew level is beyond the first skew threshold, raising an alert associated with the first skew threshold.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
comparing the skew level to a second skew threshold; and
when the skew level is beyond the second skew threshold, inhibiting movement of the movable control surface.
10. A system for detecting skew in a movable control surface of an aircraft, comprising:
a controller configured to determine a skew level of the movable control surface by:
receiving a first signal from the first RFID reader relating to a most recently read RFID tag from the first plurality of RFID tags;
receiving a second signal from the second RFID reader relating to a most recently read RFID tag from the second plurality of RFID tags;
determining a position of an inboard side of the movable control surface based on the first signal;
determining a position of an outboard side of the movable control surface based on the second signal; and,
comparing the position of the inboard side of the movable control surface to the position of the outboard side of the movable control surface to determine a skew level;
a first plurality of RFID tags arranged on one of an inboard and outboard side of the movable control surface, wherein each RFID tag from the first plurality of RFID tags is associated with a pre-determined position of the movable control surface;
a second plurality of RFID tags arranged on the other of the inboard and outboard side of the movable control surface, wherein each RFID tag from the second plurality of RFID tags is associated with a pre-determined position of the movable control surface;
a first RFID reader in communication with the controller and configured to be moved relative to the RFID tags from the first plurality of RFID tags; and,
a second RFID reader in communication with the controller and configured to be moved relative to the RFID tags from the second plurality of RFID tags.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first and second signals correspond to an identity of the detected RFID tags, and wherein the controller is further configured to:
compare the first signal with a database comprising each RFID tag and the pre-determined position of that RFID tag; and,
compare the second signal with the database comprising each RFID tag and the pre-determined position of that RFID tag.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first signal comprises a position of the detected RFID tag from the first plurality of RFID tags and wherein the second signal comprises a position of the detected RFID tag from the second plurality of RFID tags.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
compare the skew level to a first skew threshold; and
when the skew level is beyond the first skew threshold, raise an alert associated with the first skew threshold.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
compare the skew level to a second skew threshold; and
when the skew level is beyond the second skew threshold, inhibit movement of the movable control surface.