Integrated net-centric diagnostics dataflow for avionics systems

• US 8,306,689 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Koepping, Craig, Shannon, Russell, Richardson, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US12/554,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/31, 701/32, 701/33, 701/34, 701/35
• US Class Current: 701/34.3
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A net-centric avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system includes a storage medium on which is stored diagnostic data concerning the operation of systems of an aircraft and diagnostic data of aircraft systems, including BIT data, an organizational level automated maintenance environment server to transport maintenance and diagnostic information throughout the automated maintenance environment. The system also includes an organizational level diagnostics avionics tester that has a processor to execute diagnostics software for gathering, storing, and processing avionics diagnostics information. The tester is linked to an interface device that includes data acquisition hardware, standard interfaces for an avionics unit under test, and instrumentation for troubleshooting the unit under test. The organizational level diagnostics avionics tester is in network communication with the organizational level automated maintenance environment server. The system also includes a common intermediate level tester for testing a plurality of avionics modular assemblies, and an intermediate level maintenance environment server that stores historical maintenance data for use by the common intermediate level tester and by the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester.

Claims

1. A net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system, comprising:

a storage medium on which is stored diagnostic data concerning the operation of systems of an aircraft, diagnostic data of aircraft systems, and BIT data for an avionics unit under test;

an organizational level diagnostics avionics tester comprising a processor to execute diagnostics software for gathering, storing, and processing avionics diagnostics information linked to an interface device comprising data acquisition hardware, standard interfaces for the avionics unit under test, and instrumentation for troubleshooting the unit under test, wherein organizational level diagnostics avionics tester is in network communication with an organizational level automated maintenance environment server which transports the avionics diagnostic information throughout the automated maintenance environment and wherein the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester derives directed test program set results based upon BIT data, observables, and historical test result information and presents a list of possible test program entry points and a percentage confidence level for each entry point;

a common intermediate level tester for testing a plurality of avionics modular assembles; and

an intermediate level maintenance environment server that stores historical maintenance data for use by the common intermediate level tester and by the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester;

wherein the intermediate level server calculates intermediate level test program entry points based on historical test data stored at the intermediate level and the avionics diagnostics information received from the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester if intermediate level repairs are determined to be needed by the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester and transmits the intermediate level test program entry points to the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester.

2. The net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system according to claim 1, wherein the net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system comprises a diagnostic capability for an electro-optical avionics pod.

3. The net-centric aircraft avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system according to claim 1, wherein the link between the processor and the interface device of the organizational level diagnostic avionics tester comprises an LXI link.

4. A net-centric process for diagnosing and maintaining an avionics unit under test at multiple aircraft maintenance levels of an automated maintenance environment, comprising:

gathering diagnostic data and BIT data from the avionics unit under test;

combining the diagnostic data and BIT data with historical CASS test results from one or more avionics units;

providing the combined diagnostic data, BIT data, and historical CASS test results to a first diagnostic reasoner at an organizational maintenance level, the first diagnostic reasoner identifying one or more organizational level test entry points for conducting tests of the avionics unit under test at the organizational level;

testing, by a processor, the avionics unit under test at the one or more organizational level test entry points to derive organizational level test results;

determining whether intermediate level repairs will be needed for the avionics unit under test;

sending the organizational level test results to an intermediate level maintenance server;

if intermediate level repairs are determined to be needed,

analyzing the organizational level test results with a second diagnostic reasoner to determine one or more CASS safe-turn-on entry points for intermediate level testing of one or more modular component assemblies of the avionics unit under test;

testing the one or more modular component assemblies of the avionics unit under test at the one or more CASS safe-turn-on entry points to obtain intermediate level test results;

identifying one or more modular component assemblies of the avionics unit under test that are likely to be defective based upon the intermediate level test results;

storing the intermediate level test results on the intermediate level maintenance server; and

storing the intermediate level test results on the organizational level maintenance server.

5. The net-centric process for diagnosing and maintaining an avionics unit under test at multiple aircraft maintenance levels according to claim 4, wherein the first diagnostic reasoner provides confidence levels associated with the one or more test entry points.