Methods, systems and computer readable media for managing aircraft systems

• US 9,457,893 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Mesguen, Mael, Buron, Franois, Poux, Thibaut
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US14/171,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/02 Conjoint controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed for managing an aircraft'"'"'s systems through a dedicated interface. One aspect of a method for implementing the subject matter described herein includes at least one interactive interface configured for managing an aircraft system, displaying at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more system component, displaying at least one or more energy flow icon representing the direction of circulation of an energy flow, and interacting with the at least one or more system component through a user action on the at least one or more graphic object.

Claims

1. A method for managing an aircraft system of an aircraft, the method comprising:

at least one interactive interface configured for managing the aircraft system and in association with a hardware processor;

displaying an aircraft graphic representing at least a portion of a fuselage structure of the aircraft;

displaying at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more system component;

displaying at least one or more energy flow icon representing a direction of circulation of an energy flow;

interacting with the at least one or more system component by a user action on the at least one or more graphic object; and

initializing a safeguard mechanism configured to prevent the aircraft system from executing an inappropriate operating procedure, wherein initializing the safeguard mechanism comprises placing a zone at risk icon over the at least one or more system component, wherein the zone at risk icon is configured to prevent the at least one or more system component from executing the inappropriate operating procedure;

wherein the at least one or more graphic object is integrated into the aircraft graphic displayed on the interface in reference to a physical location of the at least one or more system component on the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein interacting with the at least one or more system component includes at least one or more of:

activating or deactivating the system component;

activating a system function sequence following a prescribed sequence; and

interacting with a safeguard mechanism associated with the aircraft system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein activating or deactivating the system component includes at least one or more of:

activating or deactivating a fuel pump;

activating or deactivating a fuel valve; and

activating or deactivating an electric power supply system.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the system function sequence following the prescribed sequence for at least one or more of:

activating a fuel auto feed mode;

activating a manual feed mode from a left wing tank, right wing tank, and/or a center tank or any combination thereof;

activating a fuel jettison procedure;

activating a refuel procedure; and

activating a fuel rebalance procedure.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein interacting with the safeguard mechanism comprises dragging a command icon in a zone at risk icon.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a command icon, wherein the command icon is configured to display a message about a consequence of executing the inappropriate operating procedure.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a warning message about a system anomaly.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the at least one or more graphic object representing the at least one or more system component includes displaying at least one or more of:

a graphic object representing a fuel tank;

a graphic object representing an aircraft engine;

a graphic object representing an auxiliary power unit (APU);

a graphic object representing a fuel pump; and

a graphic object representing a fuel valve.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the at least one or more graphic object representing the at least one or more system component comprises displaying system information on the graphic object.

10. A system for managing an aircraft system of an aircraft, the system comprising:

an interactive interface configured for managing one or more aircraft system and comprising a hardware processor, the interface comprising;

an aircraft graphic representing at least a portion of a fuselage structure of the aircraft;

at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more system component;

at least one or more energy flow icon representing a direction of circulation of an energy flow;

at least one or more graphic object representing an automated task procedure; and

a safeguard mechanism configured to prevent the aircraft system from executing an inappropriate operating procedure, wherein the safeguard mechanism comprises a zone at risk icon configured to prevent the at least one or more system component from executing the inappropriate operating procedure;

wherein the at least one or more graphic object is integrated into the aircraft graphic displayed on the interface in reference to a physical location of the at least one or more system component on the aircraft.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the automated task procedure includes at least one or more of:

a fuel auto feed procedure;

a fuel jettison procedure;

a refuel procedure; and

a fuel rebalance procedure.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a command icon configured to display a message about a consequence of executing the inappropriate operating procedure.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one or more system component includes at least one or more of:

a fuel tank;

an aircraft engine;

an auxiliary power unit (APU);

a fuel pump; and

a fuel valve.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by a hardware processor of a computer control, the computer to perform steps comprising:

at an interactive interface configured for managing one or more aircraft system of an aircraft and comprising the hardware processor;

displaying an aircraft graphic representing at least a portion of a fuselage structure of the aircraft;

displaying at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more system component;

displaying at least one or more energy flow icon representing a direction of circulation of an energy flow;

interacting with the at least one or more system component through a user action on the at least one or more graphic object; and

initializing a safeguard mechanism configured to prevent the aircraft system from executing an inappropriate operating procedure, wherein initializing the safeguard mechanism comprises placing a zone at risk icon over the at least one or more system component, wherein the zone at risk icon is configured to prevent the at least one or more system component from executing the inappropriate operating procedure;

wherein the at least one or more graphic object is integrated into the aircraft graphic displayed on the interface in reference to a physical location of the at least one or more system component on the aircraft.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein interacting with the at least one or more system component includes at least one or more of:

activating or deactivating the system component;

activating an automated task procedure; and

interacting with a safeguard mechanism associated with the aircraft system.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein interacting with the safeguard mechanism comprises dragging a command icon in a zone at risk icon.