Systems and method for collecting data in a vehicle

• US 8,116,940 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Keller, Kirby J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US12/141,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20090319116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/29, 385101-104, 385/106, 385/53, 385/76, 385/77, 439/577, 174/117.M
• US Class Current: 701/39
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4432 with fibre reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 7/00 Details or accessories common to the registering or indicating apparatus of groups G07C3/00 and G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/22 Cables including at least one electrical conductor together with optical fibres

Abstract

A data collection system for a vehicle is provided. The data collection system includes a first data collection node configured to obtain data from a vehicle subsystem, and a processor communicatively coupled to the data collection node via a wiring system, wherein the wiring system includes a plurality of conductors and an overbraid surrounding said plurality of conductors, said overbraid comprising at least one fiber optic cable integrally woven therein and configured for the transmission of data related to an operational status of the vehicle subsystem.

Claims

1. A data collection system for a vehicle, said data collection system comprising:

a first data collection node configured to obtain data from a vehicle subsystem; and

a processor communicatively coupled to said first data collection node via a wiring system, said wiring system comprising a plurality of conductors and an overbraid circumscribing said plurality of conductors, at least one fiber optic cable integrally woven between an interior and an exterior of said overbraid to form a portion of said overbraid and configured for the transmission of data related to an operational status of the vehicle subsystem between said processor and said first data collection node;

wherein said overbraid is at least partially formed from strands that are not fiber optic cables.

2. A data collection system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an optical transceiver associated with said processor, wherein said data collection node comprises an optical transceiver, said optical transceivers configured to communicate over said at least one fiber optic cable.

3. A data collection system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second data collection node positioned within the vehicle that is configured to transmit data to the first data collection node via at least one of an electrical conductor, a wireless interface and a fiber optic interface, wirelessly or via said at least one fiber optic cable.

4. A data collection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one fiber optic cable further comprises a plurality of optical fibers configured to provide redundant optical paths between said first data collection node and said processor.

5. A data collection system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a subsystem node positioned within the vehicle that is configured for the transmission of data related to an operational status of the vehicle subsystem via said at least one fiber optic cable.

6. A data collection system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the second data collection node is configured to transmit data wirelessly to the first data collection node.

7. A data collection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed to:

determine the current status of at least one of the vehicle and vehicle sub-system using data received from the first data collection node;

predict a status of at least one of the vehicle and vehicle sub-system using data received from the first data collection node; and

transmit a status report using the status prediction to a user via a user interface.

8. A wiring system for a vehicle comprising:

at least one conductor;

a overbraid circumscribing said at least one conductor; and

at least one fiber optic cable integrally woven between an interior and an exterior of said overbraid to form a portion of said overbraid and configured for the transmission of data related to an operational status of the vehicle;

wherein said overbraid is at least partially formed from strands that are not fiber optic cables.

9. A wiring system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said at least one fiber optic cable comprises a plurality of optical fibers configured to provide redundant optical paths between a first data collection node and a processor.

10. A wiring system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said plurality of optical fibers extends between said data collection node and said processor.

11. A wiring system in accordance with claim 10 wherein each fiber optic cable in the plurality of fiber optic cables transmits the data, such that, if at least one fiber optic cable become damaged, at least one non-damaged fiber optic cable transmits the data to the processor.

12. A wiring system in accordance with claim 10 wherein, if all fiber optic cables become damaged, a fault signal is produced by the processor.

13. A wiring system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said plurality of optical fibers comprises a plurality of groups of fiber optic cables circumferentially-spaced within said overbraid.

14. A wiring system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said at least one fiber optic cable is configured to transmit high bandwidth data.

15. A method for collecting data in a vehicle including an on-board processor, said method comprising:

communicatively coupling a first data collection node to the processor utilizing a wiring system including at least one conductor and an overbraid circumscribing said at least one conductor, a plurality of fiber optic cables woven between an interior and an exterior of said overbraid to form a portion of said overbraid;

wherein said overbraid is at least partially formed from strands that are not fiber optic cables;

receiving data from a vehicle subsystem at the first data collection node; and

transmitting data related to an operational status of the vehicle from the first data collection node to the processor via at least one of the fiber optic cables.

16. A method for collecting data in a vehicle in accordance with claim 15 wherein receiving the data from a vehicle subsystem further comprises transmitting the data from a second data collection node to the first data collection node.

17. A method for collecting data in a vehicle in accordance with claim 16, wherein transmitting the data from the second data collection node to the first data collection node further comprises transmitting the data wirelessly.

18. A method for collecting data in a vehicle in accordance with claim 15 further comprising providing the wiring system including the overbraid and the plurality of fiber optic cables integrally woven within the overbraid.

19. A method for collecting data in a vehicle in accordance with claim 18 wherein providing the wiring system including the overbraid and the plurality of fiber optic cables further comprises the plurality of optical fibers configured to provide redundant optical paths between said first data collection node and said processor.

20. A method for collecting data in a vehicle in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:

receiving data relating to a status of at least one of the vehicle and a vehicle sub-system;

determining the current status of at least one of the vehicle and vehicle sub-system using data received from the first data collection node;

predicting the status of at least one of the vehicle and vehicle sub-system based on the received data; and

transmitting a status report using the status prediction to a user via a user interface.