Integrated net-centric diagnostics dataflow for avionics systems

• US 20110040442A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Richardson, Thomas, Koepping, Craig, Shannon, Russell
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A net-centric avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system includes a storage medium on which is stored diagnostic data concerning the operation of systems of an aircraft and diagnostic data of aircraft systems, including BIT data, an organizational level automated maintenance environment server to transport maintenance and diagnostic information throughout the automated maintenance environment. The system also includes an organizational level diagnostics avionics tester that has a processor to execute diagnostics software for gathering, storing, and processing avionics diagnostics information. The tester is linked to an interface device that includes data acquisition hardware, standard interfaces for an avionics unit under test, and instrumentation for troubleshooting the unit under test. The organizational level diagnostics avionics tester is in network communication with the organizational level automated maintenance environment server. The system also includes a common intermediate level tester for testing a plurality of avionics modular assemblies, and an intermediate level maintenance environment server that stores historical maintenance data for use by the common intermediate level tester and by the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester.

Claims

1. A net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system, comprising:

a storage medium on which is stored diagnostic data concerning the operation of systems of an aircraft and diagnostic data of aircraft systems, comprising BIT data;

an organizational level automated maintenance environment server to transport maintenance and diagnostic information throughout the automated maintenance environment;

an organizational level diagnostics avionics tester comprising a processor to execute diagnostics software for gathering, storing, and processing avionics diagnostics information linked to an interface device comprising data acquisition hardware, standard interfaces for an avionics unit under test, and instrumentation for troubleshooting the unit under test, wherein the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester is in network communication with the organizational level automated maintenance environment server;

a common intermediate level tester for testing a plurality of avionics modular assemblies; and

an intermediate level maintenance environment server that stores historical maintenance data for use by the common intermediate level tester and by the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester.

2. The net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system according to claim 1, wherein the organizational level automated maintenance environment server comprises a bidirectional network communication link to the common intermediate level tester.

3. The net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system according to claim 1, wherein the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester is in network communication with the intermediate level maintenance environment server.

4. The net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system according to claim 1, wherein the net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system comprises a diagnostic capability for an electro-optical avionics pod.

5. The net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system according to claim 1, wherein the link between the processor and the interface device of the diagnostic avionics tester comprises an LXI link.

6. A net-centric process for diagnosing and maintaining an electro-optical avionics pod at multiple aircraft maintenance levels of an automated maintenance environment, comprising:

gathering diagnostic data and BIT data from the electro-optical avionics pod;

combining the diagnostic data and BIT data with historical CASS test results for electro-optical avionics pods;

providing the combined diagnostic data, BIT data, and historical CASS test results to a first diagnostic reasoner at an organizational maintenance level, the first diagnostic reasoner identifying one or more organizational level test entry points for conducting tests of the electro-optical avionics pod at the organizational level;

testing the electro-optical avionics pod at the one or more organizational level test entry points to derive operational level test results;

determining whether intermediate level repairs will be needed for the electro-optics pod;

sending the operational level test results to an intermediate level maintenance server;

if intermediate level repairs are determined to be needed,

analyzing the operational level test results with a second diagnostic reasoner to determine one or more CASS safe-turn-on entry points for intermediate level testing of pod modular component assemblies;

testing the pod modular component assemblies at the one or more CASS safe-turn-on entry points to obtain intermediate level test results;

identifying one or more modular component assemblies of the electro-optical avionics pod that are likely to be defective from the intermediate level test results;

storing the intermediate level test results on the intermediate level maintenance server; and

storing the intermediate level test results on the operational level maintenance server.

7. The net-centric process for diagnosing and maintaining an aircraft electro-optics pod at multiple aircraft maintenance levels according to claim 6, wherein the first diagnostic reasoner provides confidence levels associated with the one or more test entry points.