SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND ISOLATING FAULTS IN PRESSURE SENSING OF FLUSH AIR DATA SYSTEM (FADS)

A system and method for detecting and isolating faults in pressure ports (2) and pressure transducers (3) of a pressure sensing system are disclosed. The system comprises a set of pressure ports (2) flushed to a nose cap (1) of a space vehicle in crucifix form. Three pressure transducers (3) are connected to each pressure port (2) through pneumatic tubes (4) for measuring surface pressure from the pressure ports (2). Separate power supplying units (7, 8, 9) are connected to the three pressure transducers (3) for powering the pressure transducers (3) at each pressure port (2). A processing unit (10) is configured to acquire voltage inputs corresponding to the measured surface pressure from the pressure transducers (3). The processing unit (10) executes one or more levels of fault checking to detect and isolate pressure transducer failures and blockage of the pressure ports (2) based on the voltage inputs. Hence, it is possible to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the pressure estimation of the FADS. cushion pressure.