Vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging

• US 7,689,594 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wise, Kevin A., Davidson, Ronald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Yicun
• Application Number:
  US11/534,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 701/1, 701/29, 701/34, 701/36, 701 41- 43
• US Class Current: 707/781
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0077 using redundant signals or controls

Abstract

A vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging may include a first line replaceable unit and a second line replaceable unit. The first line replaceable unit may include a vehicle management system computer channel coupleable to a group including at least one mission related system and at least one vehicle system. The first line replaceable unit may also include a mission management system computer channel coupleable to the group including the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system. The second line replaceable unit may include another vehicle management system computer channel coupleable to the group including the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system. The second line replaceable unit may also include another mission management system computer channel coupleable to the group including the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system.

Claims

1. A vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging mountable in a vehicle, comprising:

a first line replaceable unit including;

a vehicle management system computer (VMSC) channel coupleable to a group including at least one mission related system and at least one vehicle system;

a mission management system computer (MMSC) channel coupleable to the group including the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system;

a second line replaceable unit including;

another VMSC channel coupleable to the group including the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system; and

another MMSC channel coupleable to the group including the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system; and

a VMSC common bus coupling together at least the VMSC channel and the other VMSC channel, and adapted to couple at least the vehicle management system computer channels to each mission related system;

a separate VMSC bus to couple each VMSC channel and each vehicle system;

a MMSC common bus coupling together at least the MMSC channel and the other MMSC channel, and adapted to couple at least the mission management system computer channels to each vehicle system; and

a separate MMSC bus to couple each mission management system computer channel and each mission related system.

2. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 1, further comprising a channel restart feature.

3. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 1, further comprising a cross channel data link architecture to exchange data between channels and to support redundancy management voting and channel restart capability.

4. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 3, wherein the cross channel data link architecture comprises a cross channel data link to couple the vehicle management system computer channel in the first line replaceable unit to the other vehicle management system computer channel in the second line replaceable unit.

5. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 3, wherein the cross channel data link architecture comprises a cross channel data link to couple the mission management system computer channel in the first line replaceable unit to the other mission management system computer channel in the second line replaceable unit.

6. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 1, further comprising an Ethernet to couple the channels, the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system.

7. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management system computer channels are couplable to a plurality of actuators.

8. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 1, wherein the channels are electrically independent.

9. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 8, wherein channels within the same line replaceable unit share a common ground.

10. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 1, further comprising a fault protection feature to prevent all channels in a line replaceable unit from going down.

11. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 10, wherein the fault protection feature comprises a quad redundant vehicle management system computing architecture and a mission management system computing architecture separated into two channels each per line replaceable unit.

12. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management system computer channel comprises:

a processor to control operation of the vehicle management system computer channel;

a memory accessible by the processor;

a global positioning system receiver to provide global positioning information relative to a vehicle;

an inertial measurement unit to provide measurements of vehicle movement; and

a radar altimeter to determine an altitude of the vehicle; and

a bus controller to control coupling of the vehicle management system computer channel to a bus.

13. The vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging of claim 1, wherein the mission management system computer channel comprises:

a processor to control operation of the mission management system computer channel;

a memory accessible by the processor; and

a bus controller to control coupling of the mission management system computer channel to a bus.

14. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one vehicle system;

at least one mission related system;

a vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging mounted in the vehicle, wherein the vehicle management and mission management computer architecture and packaging include;

a first line replaceable unit including;

a vehicle management system computer (VMSC) channel coupled to the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system;

a mission management system computer (MMSC) channel coupled to the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system;

a second line replaceable unit including;

another VMSC channel coupled to the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system; and

another MMSC channel coupled to the at least one mission related system and the at least one vehicle system; and

a VMSC common bus coupling together at least the VMSC channel and the other VMSC channel, and adapted to couple at least the vehicle management system computer channels to each mission related system;

a separate VMSC bus to couple each VMSC channel and each vehicle system;

a MMSC common bus coupling together at least the MMSC channel and the other MMSC channel, and adapted to couple at least the mission management system computer channels to each vehicle system; and

a separate MMSC bus to couple each mission management system computer channel and each mission related system.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle management and mission management computer architecture further comprise a channel restart feature.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle management and mission management computer architecture further comprise a fault protection feature to prevent all channels in a line replaceable unit from going down.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle comprises one of an aerospace vehicle, a water craft, and a terrestrial vehicle.