Helicopter Rotor Telemetry Test with Wireless Systems
Project name: Helicopter Rotor Telemetry Test with Wireless Systems
A leading aircraft manufacturer conducted performance testing on a helicopter's main rotor and tail rotor using advanced wireless measurement systems to evaluate dynamic behavior under operational conditions.
Test Setup & Instrumentation
1. Main Rotor Testing
System: Battery-powered WW-Series Wireless Dynamic Signal Test and Analysis System
Parameters Measured:
Blade acceleration (3-axis, ±500g range)
Dynamic strain (fiber Bragg grating sensors, ±5000με)
Torsional load (strain-based torque estimation)
Temperature (RTDs, -40°C to +120°C)
2. Tail Rotor Testing
System: Wirelessly powered WW-Series System (inductive charging)
Parameters Measured:
Vibration spectra (0–5kHz bandwidth)
Flapwise/lagwise bending moments
Blade tip deflection (optical tracking)
Test Execution
Rotational speed: 2000 RPM (simulating cruise condition)
Data synchronization: IEEE 802.15.4 TDMA protocol (inter-node jitter <2μs)
Sampling rates:
Strain/torque: 10 kSPS
Vibration: 50 kSPS
Temperature: 1 SPS
Key Technological Innovations
Wireless Power for Tail Rotor
Eliminated battery swaps via resonant inductive coupling (85% power transfer efficiency at 10cm air gap).
Rotor-Phase-Locked Acquisition
Once-per-rev (OPR) triggering ensured all data was angle-synchronized for harmonic analysis.
Composite-Friendly Sensors
Low-mass (<30g) nodes prevented rotor imbalance issues.
Carbon-fiber-compatible adhesives ensured reliable bonding at 2000 RPM.
Test Outcomes
Main rotor:
Identified 3rd harmonic resonance at 45Hz requiring damping modification.
Confirmed flapwise bending stiffness met 120% design margin.
Tail rotor:
Detected aerodynamic flutter onset at 1800–2200 RPM (addressed via trailing-edge stiffening).
Validated wireless power reliability – zero data loss during 8-hour continuous operation.
Conclusion
This wireless telemetry test successfully demonstrated that advanced, battery-free systems can deliver accurate, synchronized data for critical rotor components under real-world conditions. By eliminating wired constraints and validating structural integrity, the project set a new standard for efficient, high-fidelity helicopter rotor performance testing.
This test established a new benchmark for helicopter rotor testing, combining wireless freedom with laboratory-grade accuracy in flight-relevant conditions.
Key Terms:
OPR triggering: Synchronizing data to shaft rotation for order tracking
Flapwise/lagwise: Blade bending directions relative to rotation plane
TDMA: Time-division multiple access for deterministic wireless timing
