Foreign Object Debris (FOD) entering a jet engine inlet presents a significant risk to engine performance, safety, and reliability. Particles such as sand, stones, and metallic fragments can cause damage to internal components, potentially resulting in costly repairs or catastrophic failure. Current detection systems utilized by Pratt & Whitney rely on full-hoop antenna configurations; however, these systems exhibit reduced sensitivity toward the center of the inlet, leading to missed detections of debris. In addition, nuisance trips reduce the overall reliability of the system. The problem addressed in this project is the need to improve detection sensitivity, accuracy, and reliability within the inlet. This work investigates whether alternative antenna geometries, specifically a delta-shaped configuration, can enhance detection performance by increasing sensitivity in critical regions and reducing the likelihood of missed debris events.

Our team collaborated with Electrical and Computer Engineering 36 on this project.