Piston engine aircraft automated pre-flight testing
First Claim
1. A method for testing an aircraft prior to flight, the method comprising:
- receiving a user signal from a pre-flight test input source, the user signal indicating that a pilot of the aircraft has directed engine control circuitry, which is arranged to electronically control operation of a set of piston engines of the aircraft during flight, to begin testing the aircraft in an automated manner;
in response to the user signal, conducting a pre-flight test of the aircraft from the engine control circuitry;
upon completion of the pre-flight test, outputting a result of the pre-flight test from the engine control circuitry;
wherein the engine control circuitry includes (i) a primary electronic control unit (ECU) which is arranged to control engine combustion during a normal flight mode of the engine control circuitry, and (ii) a secondary ECU which is arranged to control engine combustion during a backup flight mode of the engine control circuitry, the engine control circuitry transitioning from the normal flight mode to the backup flight mode in the event of a failure of the primary ECU;
wherein the primary ECU includes a first memory device which stores a first set of instructions and a first processor; and
wherein the secondary ECU includes a second memory device which stores a second set of instructions and a second processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment is directed to a method for testing an aircraft prior to flight. The method includes receiving a user signal from a pre-flight test input source, the user signal indicating that a pilot of the aircraft has directed engine control circuitry, which is arranged to electronically control operation of a set of piston engines of the aircraft during flight, to begin testing the aircraft in an automated manner. The method includes, in response to the user signal, conducting a pre-flight test of the aircraft from the engine control circuitry. The method includes, upon completion of the pre-flight test, outputting a result of the pre-flight test from the engine control circuitry.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for testing an aircraft prior to flight, the method comprising:
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receiving a user signal from a pre-flight test input source, the user signal indicating that a pilot of the aircraft has directed engine control circuitry, which is arranged to electronically control operation of a set of piston engines of the aircraft during flight, to begin testing the aircraft in an automated manner; in response to the user signal, conducting a pre-flight test of the aircraft from the engine control circuitry; upon completion of the pre-flight test, outputting a result of the pre-flight test from the engine control circuitry; wherein the engine control circuitry includes (i) a primary electronic control unit (ECU) which is arranged to control engine combustion during a normal flight mode of the engine control circuitry, and (ii) a secondary ECU which is arranged to control engine combustion during a backup flight mode of the engine control circuitry, the engine control circuitry transitioning from the normal flight mode to the backup flight mode in the event of a failure of the primary ECU; wherein the primary ECU includes a first memory device which stores a first set of instructions and a first processor; and wherein the secondary ECU includes a second memory device which stores a second set of instructions and a second processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20)
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13. An electronic aircraft control system, comprising:
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an engine subsystem interface; a communications interface; and engine control circuitry coupled to the engine subsystem interface and the communications interface, the engine control circuitry being arranged to control operation of a set of piston engines of an aircraft during flight, the engine control circuitry being further arranged to; receive a user signal from the communications interface, the user signal indicating that a pilot of the aircraft has directed the engine control circuitry to begin testing the aircraft in an automated manner, in response to the user signal, conduct a pre-flight test of the aircraft through the engine subsystem interface, and upon completion of the pre-flight test, output a result of the pre-flight test through the communications interface; wherein the engine control circuitry includes (i) a primary electronic control unit (ECU) which is arranged to control engine combustion during a normal flight mode of the engine control circuitry, and (ii) a secondary ECU which is arranged to control engine combustion during a backup flight mode of the engine control circuitry, the engine control circuitry transitioning from the normal flight mode to the backup flight mode in the event of a failure of the primary ECU; wherein the primary ECU includes a first memory device which stores a first set of instructions and a first processor; and wherein the secondary ECU includes a second memory device which stores a second set of instructions and a second processor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification