In-Flight Demonstration of a Novel Contactless Sensor for Helicopter Blade Motion Measurement

This paper focuses on the path which led to the final flight demonstration of an innovative helicopter main rotor blade attitude measurement system, based on stereoscopic cameras. The system has been designed, developed and implemented within the project MANOEUVRES, carried on in the framework of the Clean Sky Green Rotorcraft 5 research programme and aimed at developing an integrated system capable of informing the pilot of the real-time noise generation and of suggesting possible corrective actions for low-noise maneuvering. The integrated systems relies on an innovative blade attitude sensor, being the main rotor state one of the factors which mostly impact on noise generation, not retrievable by means of conventional systems. In this paper, the full sensor development process is briefly described, with emphasis laid on its flight demonstration, performed on board an AgustaWestland AW139 prototype helicopter, and on the analysis of the flight test results.