The Boeing Company
Apparatus and method to detect aircraft wing deflection and twist during flight

Abstract:

A monitoring system for an aircraft which includes a laser secured to a fuselage of the aircraft and a laser beam target device secured to a wing of the aircraft, wherein the laser is positioned to emit a laser beam onto the laser beam target device for ascertaining a deflection of the wing. A method is also provided for sensing the deflection of a portion of a wing of an aircraft which includes the steps of emitting a laser beam from a laser secured to the fuselage of an aircraft and receiving the laser beam at a laser beam target device secured to a wing of the aircraft. The method further includes the step of transmitting location information of the position of the laser beam at the laser beam target device to a controller of a gimbal wherein the gimbal secures the laser to the fuselage of the aircraft.