Aircraft Mounted Neural Network Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Location

Abstract

Abstract. Cloud to ground and cloud to cloud lightning flashes pose a threat to the aircraft body and the electronic systems inside the aircraft. In this paper we present a single unit, as opposed to a three unit, lightning locator mounted on the aircraft that uses the wave-shapes of electromagnetic fields radiated by lightning and electrical activity ahead of the aircraft to locate the distance range of lightning activity. A three element array antenna scans the area ahead of the aircraft to narrow down the area ahead where the lightning or threatening electrical activity is. Moreover, the unique shape of the electric fields depending on the distance from the lightning activity is used by a neural network to train and recognize the distance range of the lightning activity from the aircraft on which the lightning detector is mounted. The combined use of the three element array antenna and the neural network provides the required knowledge of lightning activity for the pilot to take evasive action.