Avionics maintenance training device

• US 6,572,376 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Department of The Navy Office of Counsel
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Saunders, Craig D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Application Number:
  US09/900,902
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 434/372, 434/30, 434/219, 434/55, 446/7, 703/4, 244/194
• US Class Current: 434/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/08 for teaching control of aircraft, e.g. Link trainer

Abstract

An avionics maintenance training device to train cognitive and psychomotor skills is disclosed. The training device is a physical mock-up of an actual aircraft'"'"'s cabin assembly. The avionics maintenance training device includes actual avionics components and non-functional and functional physically replicated avionics components of the actual aircraft. The avionics maintenance training device further includes an instructor workstation, a simulator/stimulator, and an interactive electronic training manual. The training device runs the actual operational flight program of the aircraft. The replicated components are three-dimensional components with physical characteristics similar to the avionics components they replicate to teach component removal and replacement skills. The actual and replicated avionics components are located in the training device in positions similar to positions of the avionics components in the aircraft to replicate accessibility. The training device also includes replicated cables that connect to the functional physically replicated components and the simulator/stimulator. The training device further includes placards to replace avionics components that are not pertinent to training.

Claims

1. A training device to simulate operation of an aircraft to train cognitive and psychomotor skills, wherein the aircraft comprises actual avionics components used by avionics technicians and wherein the aircraft runs an operational flight program, the training device comprising:

a first processor for running the operational flight program;

at least one actual avionics component for providing signals or data to the operational flight program;

non-functional physically replicated avionics components that are three-dimensional replicas of a first set of corresponding actual avionics components;

functional physically replicated avionics components that are three-dimensional replicas of a second set of corresponding actual avionics components; and

a second processor for running a simulation program to generate signals or data to simulate the second set of actual avionics components for the operational flight program;

wherein the non-functional and functional physically replicated avionics components have physical characteristics similar to the corresponding actual avionics components they replicate sufficient to teach component removal and replacement skills, and

wherein the at least one actual avionics components and the non-functional and functional physically replicated avionics components are located in the training device in positions similar to positions of the corresponding actual avionics components in the aircraft to replicate accessibility.

2. The training device of claim 1, further comprising:

an instructor workstation for controlling the training device.

3. The training device of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

an interactive electronic technical manual that is the same as or similar to an actual interactive electronic technical manual used by avionics technicians sufficiently to assist an avionics technician to perform maintenance on the aircraft.

4. The training device of claim 1, wherein the functional physically replicated avionics components comprise real connectors similar to connectors of the actual avionics components on the aircraft they replicate sufficient to teach component removal and replacement skills.

5. The training device of claim 4, further comprising:

replicated cables that are replicas of corresponding actual cables, wherein the replicated cables connect to the functional physically replicated avionics components and the second processor for running the simulation program, wherein the replicated cables have physical characteristics similar to the corresponding actual cables on the aircraft.

6. The training device of claim 5 wherein the replicated cables contain actual wires so that the training device can sense a disconnected cable.

7. The training device of claim 5, further comprising:

aircraft panels and associated controls, instruments, displays, lights, and indicators driven by required equipment voltages and signals, wherein the wiring side of each aircraft panel is individually accessible as in the aircraft.

8. The training device of claim 5 wherein the replicated cables are similar in weight to the corresponding actual cables they replicate.

9. The training device of claim 5 or 8 wherein the replicated cables are similar in size to the corresponding actual cables they replicate.

10. The training device of claim 9 wherein the replicated cables are similar in shape to the corresponding actual cables they replicate.

11. The training device of claim 10 wherein the replicated cables are similar in appearance to the corresponding actual cables they replicate.

12. The training device of claim 1, further comprising:

placards to replace actual avionics components that are not pertinent to training.

13. A training device to simulate operation of an aircraft to train cognitive and psychomotor skills, wherein the aircraft comprises actual avionics components used by avionics technicians, and wherein the aircraft runs an operational flight-program, the training device comprising:

a first processor for running the operational flight program;

at least one actual avionics component for providing signals or data to the operational flight program;

non-functional physically replicated avionics components that are three-dimensional replicas of a first set of corresponding actual avionics components;

functional physically replicated avionics components that are three-dimensional replicas of a second set of corresponding actual avionics components;

a second processor for running a simulation program to generate signals or data to simulate the second set of actual avionics components for the operational flight program;

an instructor workstation for controlling the training device;

an interactive electronic technical manual that is the same as or similar to an actual interactive electronic technical manual used by avionics technicians to perform maintenance on the aircraft;

replicated cables that are replicas of corresponding actual cables, wherein the replicated cables connect to the functional physically replicated avionics components and the second processor for running the simulation program, wherein the replicated cables have physical characteristics similar to the corresponding actual cables on the aircraft; and

wherein the replicated cables contain actual wires so that the training device can sense a disconnected cable;

aircraft panels and associated controls, instruments, displays, lights, and indicators driven by required equipment voltages and signals, wherein the wiring side of each panel is individually accessible as in the aircraft; and

placards to replace actual avionics components that are not pertinent to training,

wherein the training device physically resembles the aircraft'"'"'s cabin assembly and has the same ground clearance as the aircraft;

wherein the non-functional and functional physically replicated avionics components are similar in size, shape, weight, or appearance to the corresponding actual avionics components they replicate sufficient to teach component removal and replacement skills;

wherein the at least one actual avionics component and the non-functional and functional physically replicated avionics components are located in the training device in positions similar to positions of the corresponding actual avionics components in the aircraft to replicate accessibility; and

wherein the functional physically replicated avionics components comprise real connectors similar to connectors of the corresponding actual avionics components on the aircraft they replicate.