Aircraft LRU data collection and reliability prediction

• US 9,550,583 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Szeto, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US14/636,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20160257429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 701/31.4, 702/188, 705/7.39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/026 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0232 based on qualitative trend analysis, e.g. system evolution
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0237 based on parallel systems, e.g. comparing signals produced at the same time by same type systems and detect faulty ones by noticing differences among their responses
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A remote computing system is described that includes at least one processor and at least one module. The at least one module is operable by the at least one processor to receive first operational data collected by a first line-replaceable-unit of a first aircraft during flight operations of the first aircraft, and receive second operational data collected by at least one second line-replaceable-unit of at least one second aircraft during flight operations of the at least one second aircraft. The at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to predict, based at least in part on the first operational data and the second operational data, a failure condition associated with the first line-replaceable-unit of the first aircraft, and output, based on the impending failure condition, an indication of the predicted failure condition.

Claims

1. A line-replaceable-unit configured for installation in an aircraft comprising:

a memory;

at least one processor; and

at least one module operable by the at least one processor to;

during flight operations of the aircraft, automatically collect operational data specific to the line-replaceable-unit, the operational data including information associated with one or more single event upsets detected by the line-replaceable unit;

store the operational data at the memory;

responsive to determining that the aircraft has landed, automatically establish a communication session with a ground station; and

automatically output, to a ground station, the operational data via the communication session for subsequent transmission to a remote computing system configured to predict, based on the operational data, one or more failure conditions associated with the line-replaceable-unit.

2. The line-replaceable-unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to:

detect a value of an operational parameter associated with the line-replaceable-unit; and

store, at the memory, as the operational data being collected during flight operations of the aircraft, the value of the operational parameter.

3. The line-replaceable-unit of claim 1, wherein the line-replaceable-unit comprises at least one of a radar system, an onboard computer system, a terrain and traffic collision avoidance system, a communication radio, an engine, an engine controller, a flight management system, a radio altimeter, a navigation system, or a flight warning computer.

4. The line-replaceable-unit of claim 1, wherein the operational data associated with the line-replaceable-unit comprises an indication of at least one of:

voltage or current level information;

temperature information;

motor speed information;

engine thrust information;

acceleration information;

barometric pressure information;

transmission power information;

audio level information;

humidity level information;

or

single event upsets information.

5. The line-replaceable-unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to automatically collect the operational data by at least:

detecting the one or more single event upsets; and

responsive to detecting the one or more single event upsets, storing, at the memory of the line-replaceable-unit as the operational data, the information associated with the one or more single event upsets detected by the line-replaceable unit.

6. The line-replaceable-unit of claim 5, wherein the information associated with the one or more single event upsets comprises at least one of:

a time of each, or a range of times, of the one or more single event upsets;

a quantity of the one or more single event upsets; and

an indication of whether each, or any, of the one or more single events upsets triggered a recoverable or non-recoverable memory error associated with a memory of the line-replaceable-unit.

7. The line-replaceable-unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to automatically collect the operational data by at least:

detecting an input voltage or current level associated with the line-replaceable-unit; and

storing as the operational data associated with the line-replaceable-unit, information associated with the input voltage or current level.

8. The line-replaceable-unit of claim 7, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to detect the input voltage or current level associated with the line-replaceable-unit further by at least:

determining whether the input voltage or current level satisfies a threshold level for an acceptable input voltage or current level; and

responsive to determining that the input voltage or current level does not satisfy the threshold level, storing, at a memory of the line-replaceable-unit, an indication of when and by how much the input voltage or current level deviated from the threshold level.