Simulation methods and systems for an aircraft

• US 10,055,537 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kolbet, David Michael, Marshall, Kevin, Lutz, Daniel, Yager, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Ochoa, Juan
• Application Number:
  US13/827,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: 703 8
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0216 Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design

Abstract

A method is provided for performing a simulation on an aircraft. The method includes: receiving, at an onboard maintenance computer (OMC) a simulation script that includes one or more steps for adjusting at least one parameter of the aircraft; processing, by the OMC, the simulation script to determine simulation data; and sending the simulation data from the OMC to one or more signal producer member systems of the aircraft to adjust the at least one parameter of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for performing a simulation on an aircraft, comprising:

receiving, at an onboard maintenance computer (OMC) a simulation script for the simulation of a member system under test (MSUT) when the aircraft is not-in-flight that includes one or more steps for adjusting at least one parameter of the aircraft wherein the adjusting is performed on an aircraft during a not-in-flight maintenance;

selectively processing the simulation script to determine simulation data for the MSUT, wherein the selectively processing is performed by at least one of the OMC and one or more signal producer member systems of a plurality of member systems based on a rank of a level of criticality of the at least one of the OMC and the one or more signal producer member systems wherein the MSUT comprises at least a remaining member system from the plurality of member systems and not of the signal producer member systems in order to confirm a proper operation of the MSUT, the selectively processing further comprising;

entering by the MSUT a test mode when a set of preconditions indicates a test may be entered,

checking a status code returned from the MSUT,

returning a denied status when the status code indicates not approved and displaying constraints associated with the status code wherein the test and the simulation is deemed to not occur, and

returning an approved status when the status code indicates approval wherein the test is deemed should occur; and

processing the simulation data by the one or more signal producer member systems of the aircraft based on the selectively processing to adjust the at least one parameter of the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation data includes a parameter and a parameter value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the processing comprises processing a step of the simulation script to determine the parameter and the parameter value.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

processing, by the one or more signal producer member systems, the parameter and the parameter value of the simulation data; and

adjusting the at least one parameter of the aircraft based on the parameter and the parameter value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation data includes a step of the simulation script.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the processing comprises processing, by the OMC, the simulation script to determine the step.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

processing, by the one or more signal producer member systems, the step of the simulation data; and

adjusting the at least one parameter of the aircraft based on the step of the simulation data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation data includes a plurality of steps of the simulation script.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the processing comprises processing, by the OMC, the simulation script to determine the plurality of steps.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

processing, by the signal producer member system, the plurality of steps of the simulation data; and

adjusting the at least one parameter of the aircraft based on the plurality of steps of the simulation data.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting, by the signal producer member system, the at least one parameter of the aircraft based on the simulation data; and

performing a test, by a member system under test, using the at least one parameter that was adjusted.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising selectively displaying, by a cockpit display, at least one of a test mode and a simulation mode.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising selectively displaying, by a maintenance display, at least one of test results and simulation results.

14. A system for performing a simulation on an aircraft, the simulation system comprising:

an onboard maintenance computer (OMC) that receives a simulation script for a member system under test (MSUT) that includes one or more steps for adjusting at least one parameter of the aircraft, and that selectively processes the simulation script to determine simulation data based on a rank of a level of criticality of the OMC in order to confirm a proper operation of the MSUT wherein the MSUT comprises at least a remaining member system from a plurality of member systems outside of signal producer member systems of the plurality of member systems, the selectively processes further comprises to;

enter by the MSUT a test mode when a set of preconditions indicates a test may be entered,

check a status code returned from the MSUT,

return a denied status when the status code indicates not approved and to display constraints associated with the status code wherein the test and the simulation is deemed to not occur, and

to return an approved status when the status code indicates an approval wherein the test is deemed to should occur;

one or more signal producer member systems that receives the simulation data from the OMC and that adjusts the at least one parameter of the aircraft based on the simulation data wherein the adjust is performed on the aircraft during a not-in-flight maintenance;

processing the simulation data by the one or more signal producer member systems of the aircraft to adjust the at least one parameter of the aircraft; and

performing by the MSUT all or part of the test for determining a test status of whether all or a part of the test is passed and for confirming the proper operation of the MSUT.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the simulation data includes a parameter and a parameter value.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the OMC processes a step of the simulation script to determine the parameter and the parameter value, and wherein the one or more signal producer member systems adjust the at least one parameter of the aircraft based on the parameter and the parameter value.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the simulation data includes a step of the simulation script.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the OMC processes the simulation script to determine the step, and wherein the one or more signal producer member systems adjust the at least one parameter of the aircraft based on the step of the simulation data.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the simulation data includes a plurality of steps of the simulation script.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the OMC processes the simulation script to determine the plurality of steps, and wherein the one or more signal producer members system adjusts the at least one parameter of the aircraft based on the plurality of steps of the simulation data.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a member system under test that performs a test using the at least one parameter that was adjusted; and

at least one of a maintenance display and a cockpit display that displays information about at least one of the simulation and the test.