Patent ID: 7085655
Filing Date: 2006-08-01
Classification: B64C,B64F,G01H

Abstract:
1. A method of at least detecting defects, if any, of at least one rotor ( 6 , 10 ) of a first rotary wing aircraft, a defect corresponding to a defective state of a part of the rotor ( 6 , 10 ), wherein: I—in a preliminary step, using a second reference aircraft of a type corresponding to the first rotary wing aircraft, and having its rotor ( a) taking at least a first series of measurements on said reference aircraft by measuring, during particular operation of said reference aircraft, the values of at least two accelerations which are measured at arbitrary locations of said portion ( b) on the basis of said first series of acceleration measurements and assuming that the reference aircraft is a deformable body, determining a neural network that illustrates the relationships between said accelerations and at least said introduced defective replacement part in the reference aircraft; and II—in a later step, for at least detecting any defects of the rotor ( a) taking a second series of measurements on said first rotary wing aircraft by measuring the values of at least some of said accelerations at said portion ( b) on the basis of said second series of acceleration measurements and on the basis of the neural network determined in step I/b), detecting any defects of said rotor (