METHOD OF DETECTING A DEFECT IN A STRUCTURE, DETECTOR DEVICE AND FLYING OBJECT

• US 20150081158A1
• Filed: 09/16/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Stilkerich, Stephan
• Application Number:
  US14/487,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20150081158A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0218 characterised by the fault detection method dealing with either existing or incipient faults

Abstract

A method for detecting an error in an assembly, in particular, an assembly of a flying object, with the assembly being defined by at least one parameter. The method comprises detecting of several values of the parameter at several points of time and/or on several measuring points, grouping the values of the parameter in several groups, determining of the number of values in a group and triggering an error signal if the number of values in at least one group is not congruent with a predetermined range of numbers. Also, a detector device for detecting an error in an assembly, as well as a flying object provided with an assembly and such a detector device, can perform operations similar to the method.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an error in an assembly of a flying object, the assembly being defined by at least one parameter, and the method comprising:

detecting several values of the parameter at at least one of the following;

different points of time and different measuring points;

grouping the values of the parameter in several groups;

determining the number of values in a group; and

triggering an error signal if the number of values of at least one group is not congruent with a predetermined range of numbers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is at least one of the following

a physical parameter that is detected by a measurement;

and

an operating parameter of a controller of the assembly, the operating parameter being detected by measurement of the controller.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of the following

a temperature in the assembly;

a temperature on the assembly;

a speed of a propulsion unit of the flying object;

a voltage in the assembly; and

a voltage on the assembly.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of the following

a duration of a process of the controller;

a duration of memories utilized by the controller; and

data communication taking place in the controller.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of the following

a duration of a process of the controller;

a duration of memories utilized by the controller; and

data communication taking place in the controller.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the detected values are used to generate a statistic, the criterion for grouping of at least one group being different from the criterion of another group by a range of values related to an error of the assembly.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the predetermined range of numbers is a predetermined statistic, with a statistic being compared against the predetermined statistic.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein

the detected values are used to generate a statistic, the criterion for grouping of at least one group being different from the criterion of another group by a range of values related to an error of the assembly.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein

the detected values are used to generate a statistic, the criterion for grouping of at least one group being different from the criterion of another group by a range of values related to an error of the assembly.

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein

the detected values are used to generate a statistic, the criterion for grouping of at least one group being different from the criterion of another group by a range of values related to an error of the assembly.

11. A detector device for detecting an error in an assembly of a flying object, the assembly being defined by at least one parameter, and the detector device comprising

a measuring device configured to detect several values of the parameter of the assembly at at least one of the following:

several points of time and several measuring points;

an analyzer configured to group the values of the parameter in several groups and determine a number of the values in a group; and

a warning device configured to trigger a signal if the number of values of at least one group is not congruent with a predetermined range of numbers.

12. The detector device according to claim 11, wherein the parameter is at least one of the following

a physical parameter that is sampled by at least one sensor of the measuring device;

and

an operating parameter of a controller of the assembly, the operating parameter being detected by a monitoring device.

13. The detector device according to claim 12, wherein the sensor is configured to measure at least one of the following

a temperature in the assembly;

a temperature on the assembly;

a speed of a propulsion unit of the flying object;

a voltage in the assembly; and

a voltage on the assembly.

14. The detector device according to claim 12, wherein the measuring device is configured to detect at least one of the following

a duration of a process of the controller;

a duration of memories utilized by the controller; and

data communication taking place in the controller.

15. The detector device according to claim 13, wherein the measuring device is configured to detect at least one of the following

a duration of a process of the controller;

a duration of memories utilized by the controller; and

data communication taking place in the controller.

16. The detector device according to claim 11, wherein

the analyzer is configured to set up a statistic from the detected values, the criterion for grouping of at least one group being different from the criterion of another group, and the criterion for grouping of at least one group is further preferably determined by a range of values related to an error of the assembly.

17. The detector device according to claim 16, wherein

the predetermined range of numbers is a predetermined statistic, and the warning device is configured to compare a set up statistic with the predetermined statistic.

18. The detector device according to claim 12, wherein

the analyzer is configured to set up a statistic from the detected values, the criterion for grouping of at least one group being different from the criterion of another group, and the criterion for grouping of at least one group is further preferably determined by a range of values related to an error of the assembly.

19. A flying object comprising

an assembly;

and

a detector device configured to detect an error in an assembly according to claim 11.

20. A flying object comprising

an assembly;

and

a detector device configured to detect an error in an assembly according to claim 12.