Wireless differential pressure measurement for aircraft

Pressure distribution measurement over the surface of an aircraft can contribute to drag reduction on the flight, increasing aerodynamic efficiency and decreasing fuel consumption. Current methods for pressure distribution measurement include the use of Pressure Sensitive Paints (PSPs), which can only be used during the design phase, and Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG), which is not easy to install on existing aircraft. Drag reduction can be achieved by active flow control by using pressure taps for pressure distribution as shown in the literature. In this paper, we present investigations on the realization of an autonomous wireless pressure sensor that can be attached to the outer skin of aircraft, thus offering minimal installation effort. In order to analyze the feasibility with respect to sensing capabilities and wireless communication, tests were carried out on an HQ17 wing profile segment. Pressure measurements were compared with a reference pressure obtained from Global Positioning System (GPS) data in order to estimate airspeed through differential pressure measurement.