Automatic regime detection for Rotor Track and Balance using vibration only sensor data

Abstract

Rotor Track and Balance (RTB) is an important part of regular helicopter maintenance. The ability to perform this service assessment during normal operations, rather than with a series of explicit RTB flights, would greatly reduce the time the vehicle is non-operational and the maintenance costs associated with these flights and adjustments. This paper presents a novel methodology for identifying the RTB-related flight regimes, using a minimal number of vibration signals and comparing these to repeatable and stable characteristic vibration profiles. The technique is stable, with an 81% success in correct identification of the flight regime, when applied to a whole flight with a number of unknown regime events. The method can be run in real time, making it an effective way of identifying periods of flight that are suitable for RTB measurements. A new technique for visually representing any real-time flight signal, such as vibration, is also presented.