Design of Digital Aircraft Levelling and Symmetry procedure
Excessive aerodynamic loads may cause permanent deformation in aircraft structure. Aircraft performance and control may be impaired if these deformations are not symmetric about the longitudinal axis, thus making it difficult to maintain straight and level flight. Most of the current symmetry-check
2025-06-28 16:26:35 - Adil Khan
Design of Digital Aircraft Levelling and Symmetry procedure
Project Area of Specialization Mechatronics EngineeringProject SummaryExcessive aerodynamic loads may cause permanent deformation in aircraft structure. Aircraft performance and control may be impaired if these deformations are not symmetric about the longitudinal axis, thus making it difficult to maintain straight and level flight. Most of the current symmetry-check procedures are time-consuming and error-prone processes that involves a lot of manual human workload.
The goal of the project is to identify and compare state of the art digitizing equipment, which can be utilized to fully digitalize the existing aircraft symmetry procedures. Investigation and comparison of different measuring techniques is to be done for finding an appropriate solution based on EDMs (Electromagnetic Distance Measuring).
Finally selected equipment and software will be procured and integrated to develop fully automated aircraft leveling system.
Project Objectives- A detailed investigation to increase basic symmetry and associated mathematical skills.
- To observe existing symmetry and levelling methods for a variety of aircraft and study the existing procedures in the literature from around the world
- Investigation of different distance measuring techniques accessible in industry based on feaibility and usability while having reasonable accuracy and costs.
- The expansion of the chosen levelling approach for comprehensive symmetry check of an aircraft,.
- After equipment is finalized, an Arduino or NI-DAQ must be programmed to digitally display real-time data from the selected equipment on a screen.
Methodology begins with understanding the scope of the problem i.e. visiting the concerned industry and getting actual first-hand knowledge about the requirements. Also, prevailing procedures are studied as-well-as observed on ground for other aircrafts.
Afterwards, basic concepts are to be revised and literature review is to be done for both, i.e. understanding the available concepts and also studying the innovative technologies that could be use. In this paper, primary concern is to look for the modern distance measurement devices that can be amended to the needs.
The project consists of multiple phases. We would be dividing the work into three phases as listed below:
• Selection of appropriate equipment i.e. main concern is to undergo literature review and then depending upon industrial innovations and availability choosing an appropriate equipment that can be used for aircraft levelling and also, in subsequent phases of project, be upgraded to do complete symmetry check.
• Software/Interface development for digitized result display on the screen i.e. we will develop a mechanism for digitizing our equipment and streaming the results on any given screen. This software could be enhanced in subsequent phases of project to perform complete calculations on the given data as well and give the symmetry values directly.
• Integration and Implementation for real life scenarios i.e. the equipment along with software is to be integrated and then tested on an actual aircraft to see the practical application.
Benefits of the ProjectThe project will deliver a method to be used for cost-effective and reasonably accurate measurements for aviation industry.
It's basic intent is to be used for levelling of aircraft, which is first step of any rigging process for maintenance and checks. At later stages, this may be expanded to completely digitize the symmetry process thus, giving a technological leap ahead in this field.
Once a mechanism is formulated; it just requires modification in its software analysis part to give results for any sort of calculations which makes it a good opportuniy for implementation in other industrial applications as well where precise measurements are required.
The project will help in saving valuable foriegn exchange of the counttry. Additional local solution will be developed instead of relying on foreign vendors.
Technical Details of Final DeliverableThe Expected deliverables of the project are as follows
• Choosing an appropriate equipment for aircraft leveling.
• Development of an interface for digitized results.
The final equipment to be selected will be after a detailed comparison to get most efficient solution based on a trade-off between cost and accuracy/precision. It will be an availabe in market EDM (i.e. Electronic Distance Measuring) equipment which might probably be a laser based instrument.
As a second deliverable, we will develop a mechanism for digitizing our equipment and streaming the final results on a screen which are calulated by the software upon the input values from the equipment.
This software could be enhanced in subsequent phases of project to perform complete calculations on the given data as well and give the symmetry values directly.
Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry ManufacturingOther Industries Others Core Technology Internet of Things (IoT)Other Technologies RoboticsSustainable Development Goals Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 80000 | |||
| Laser Tracker | Equipment | 1 | 40000 | 40000 |
| Data Acquisition Cards | Equipment | 1 | 15000 | 15000 |
| Tripod Stand | Equipment | 1 | 15000 | 15000 |
| Travelling | Miscellaneous | 1 | 6000 | 6000 |
| Printing | Miscellaneous | 1 | 2000 | 2000 |
| Stationery | Miscellaneous | 1 | 2000 | 2000 |