Runway traction estimation and reporting system
A runway traction estimation and reporting method and computer readable medium is provided. Upon detection of a landing event, a runway traction estimation and reporting method provides for various measurements and calculations to estimate the traction of the runway and create a traction map of the runway. A computer readable medium may contain instructions for a runway traction estimation and reporting processor directing the processor to perform various measurements and calculations to estimate the traction of the runway. The processor may communicate with a ground station or with other aircraft to produce collaborative results.
1. A method for runway traction estimation and reporting comprising:
receiving, by a runway traction estimation and reporting processor, a first sensor input indicating a first triggering event;
starting, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor and in response to the receiving of the first sensor input, a polling timer;
receiving, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, a second sensor input in response to the polling timer indicating that a first period comprising one of 1/20 to 3/20 of a second and 1/800 to 3/800 of a second has elapsed, wherein the second sensor input is received in response to each indicated passage of the first period of the polling timer;
causing, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, the polling timer to run until a third sensor input indicating an ending event is received; and
processing, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, the second sensor input comprising a brake pressure and a wheel speed measurement; and
calculating, in response to the processing, a runway friction estimate comprising a runway map comprising runway friction data comprising the second sensor input and corresponding location data corresponding to the location of the aircraft at each indicated passage of the first period of the polling timer,
whereby wheel slip at each location datum is determined; and
sending, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, a message to an output device in response to the determining the wheel slip at each location datum wherein the message comprises the runway traction estimate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a transmitter.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a brake controller.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, a first traction report, from a receiver,
wherein the sending is further in response to the first traction report.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first triggering event is an initial aircraft touchdown.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ending event is an indication that an aircraft ground speed is at least one of less than and equal to 10 knots.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second sensor input further comprises at least one of:
a runway location identification;
an aircraft ground speed velocity identification;
a wheel rotation angle identification;
a thrust reverser position identification;
a throttle position identification;
a peak wheel acceleration identification;
weather data;
a stored variable comprising aircraft type; and
a stored variable comprising aircraft weight.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculating the runway traction estimate further comprises retrieving stored data from a tangible, non-transitory memory.
9. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a runway traction estimation and reporting processor, cause the runway traction estimation and reporting processor to be capable of performing operations comprising:
receiving, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, a second sensor input in response to the polling timer indicating that a first period comprising one of 1/20 to 3/20 of a second and 1/800 to 3/800 of a second has elapsed, wherein the second sensor input is received in response to each indicated passage of the first period of the polling timer;
causing, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, the polling timer to run until a third sensor input indicating an ending event is received; and
processing, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, the second sensor input comprising a brake pressure and a wheel speed measurement; and
calculating, in response to the processing, a runway friction estimate comprising a runway map comprising runway friction data comprising the second sensor input and corresponding location data corresponding to the location of the aircraft at each indicated passage of the first period of the polling timer,
whereby wheel slip at each location datum is determined; and
sending, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, a message to an output device in response to the determining the wheel slip at each location datum wherein the message comprises the runway traction estimate.
10. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, by the runway traction estimation and reporting processor, a first traction report, from a receiver,
wherein the sending is further in response to the first traction report.
11. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the second sensor input comprises at least one of:
a runway location identification;
an aircraft ground speed velocity identification;
a wheel rotation angle identification;
a thrust reverser position identification;
a throttle position identification;
a peak wheel acceleration identification;
weather data;
a stored variable comprising aircraft type; and
a stored variable comprising aircraft weight.
12. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 9 ,
wherein the calculating the runway traction estimate further comprises retrieving stored historical data comprising a previously acquired runway friction estimate from a tangible, non-transitory memory, and
wherein the sending the message to the output device in response to the second sensor input is further in response to the previously acquired runway friction estimate.