DISTRIBUTED AND RECOVERABLE DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A digital control system, comprising:
- a plurality of computing units comprising;
a plurality of redundant processing units, each of the processing units configured to generate one or more redundant control commands;
one or more internal monitors for detecting one or more data errors in the control commands; and
one or more recovery triggers for initiating rapid recovery of a processing unit if one or more data errors are detected;
a plurality of actuator control units each in operative communication with the redundant processing units, each of the actuator control units having a pair of redundant computational lanes configured to analyze the control commands and provide feedback to the processing units, the actuator control units configured to initiate a rapid recovery if one or more data errors is detected in one or more of the processing units;
a plurality of smart actuators each in operative communication with a separate one of the actuator control units, the smart actuators configured to receive an actuator control command from the actuator control units and provide feedback to the actuator control units; and
a plurality of redundant sensor sets in operative communication with the computing units.
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Abstract
A real-time multi-tasking digital control system with rapid recovery capability is disclosed. The control system includes a plurality of computing units comprising a plurality of redundant processing units, with each of the processing units configured to generate one or more redundant control commands. One or more internal monitors are employed for detecting data errors in the control commands. One or more recovery triggers are provided for initiating rapid recovery of a processing unit if data errors are detected. The control system also includes a plurality of actuator control units each in operative communication with the computing units. The actuator control units are configured to initiate a rapid recovery if data errors are detected in one or more of the processing units. A plurality of smart actuators communicates with the actuator control units, and a plurality of redundant sensors communicates with the computing units.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A digital control system, comprising:
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a plurality of computing units comprising;
a plurality of redundant processing units, each of the processing units configured to generate one or more redundant control commands;
one or more internal monitors for detecting one or more data errors in the control commands; and
one or more recovery triggers for initiating rapid recovery of a processing unit if one or more data errors are detected;
a plurality of actuator control units each in operative communication with the redundant processing units, each of the actuator control units having a pair of redundant computational lanes configured to analyze the control commands and provide feedback to the processing units, the actuator control units configured to initiate a rapid recovery if one or more data errors is detected in one or more of the processing units;
a plurality of smart actuators each in operative communication with a separate one of the actuator control units, the smart actuators configured to receive an actuator control command from the actuator control units and provide feedback to the actuator control units; and
a plurality of redundant sensor sets in operative communication with the computing units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A recoverable digital flight control system, comprising:
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a first primary flight control computer having a pair of redundant computational lanes configured to generate one or more redundant flight control commands, the first primary flight control computer comprising;
one or more internal monitors for detecting one or more data errors in the flight control commands; and
one or more recovery triggers for initiating rapid recovery if one or more data errors are detected;
a second primary flight control computer configured for redundant processing with respect to the first primary flight control computer and having a pair of redundant computational lanes configured to generate one or more redundant flight control commands, the second primary flight control computer comprising;
one or more internal monitors for detecting one or more data errors in the flight control commands; and
one or more recovery triggers for initiating rapid recovery if one or more data errors are detected;
a plurality of actuator control units each in operative communication with the primary flight control computers, each of the actuator control units having a pair of redundant computational lanes configured to analyze the flight control commands and provide feedback to each of the computational lanes of the primary flight control computers;
a plurality of dual channel smart actuators each in operative communication with a separate one of the actuator control units, the smart actuators configured to receive an actuator control command from the actuator control units and provide feedback to the actuator control units; and
a plurality of redundant flight sensors in operative communication with the primary flight control computers. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification