Avionics framework

• US 7,778,744 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Patel, Yogesh, Kande, Mallikarjun, Kale, Nitin Anand, Rath, Manaswini
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMPLE, JONATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US11/407,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/1, 701/200
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 specially adapted for aircraft

Abstract

A modular avionics system for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has a control module that executes flight control and vertical and lateral guidance algorithms to generate control commands. A data link module communicates with a remote control station and receives control commands from the remote control station. A data acquisition module communicates with the control module and the data link module. The data acquisition module is configured to receive and process data from one or more onboard sensors and to actuate a plurality of servo motors in response to control commands. A switching module selectively couples the data acquisition module to the control module or to the data link module responsive to an input from the remote control station to respectively switch between a fully autonomous mode of UAV operation and a manual mode of UAV operation. Power may be provided by a power module.

Claims

1. A modular avionics system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the system comprising:

a control module that executes flight control and vertical and lateral guidance functions to generate control commands;

a data link module communicating with a remote control station and receiving control commands from the remote control station;

a data acquisition module communicating with the control module and the data link module wherein the data acquisition module is adapted to receive and process data from one or more onboard sensors and further actuate a plurality of servo motors in response to control commands; and

a switching module adapted to selectively couple the data acquisition module to the control module or to the data link module responsive to an input from the remote control station to facilitate switching between modes of operation of the UAV;

wherein the control module comprises a telemetry/telecommand module with a communication protocol that includes classification of the telemetry data, prioritizing the classified data, customizing header format for the telemetry and telecommand packets, and a handshaking methodology for telecommand; and

wherein the switching module includes an electronic switch controlled by a microcontroller, wherein the switch enables the microcontroller to process manual telecommands from a remote station, and wherein the microcontroller implements a shared mode of operation by determining whether control is performed by a flight management system or through the manual telecommand.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation includes at least one of a manual mode or of an autonomous mode.

3. The system of claim 1 and further comprising means for powering such modules.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module comprises a software architecture for autonomous flight of UAV, which further includes a sensor data acquisition module, an error correction module for sensor accuracy, a vertical/lateral guidance module, a flight control module, a telemetry and telecommand module, and a payload module.

5. The system of claim 1, and wherein the data acquisition module comprises a switching module that includes an electronic switch controlled by a microcontroller, wherein the switch enables the on board system to switch between an autonomous mode of control and more than one type of manual control.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the types of manual control include RC control or remote piloting using RF.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the data acquisition module integrates multiple sensors to the system by using hardware drivers and bilateral switches.

8. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a power module that selectively provides powering ON or powering OFF the on board sub systems remotely from ground station using telecommand.

9. The system of claim 8 and further comprising a power module that transmits power health status signals to the ground control station.

10. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a power module that provides over current protection features.

11. A modular avionics framework of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the framework comprising:

a control module adapted to execute flight control and flight management algorithms residing therein;

a data link module configured for communication between said avionics framework and a remote control station;

a data acquisition module in communication with the control module and the data link module, the data acquisition module being configured to receive and process data from one or more onboard sensors and to actuate a plurality of servo motors in response to a control command from the control module or from the remote control station via the data link module;

a switching module configured to selectively couple the data acquisition module to the control module or to the data link module, responsive to an input from the remote control station, wherein coupling the data acquisition module to the control module facilitates a fully autonomous mode of UAV operation and coupling the data acquisition module to the data link module facilitates a manual mode of UAV operation; and

a power module configured to generate and distribute power to the data link module, data acquisition module and the control module and to transmit a signal indicative of power health to the ground control station;

wherein the control module comprises a telemetry/telecommand module with a communication protocol that includes classification of the telemetry data, prioritizing the classified data, customizing header format for the telemetry and telecommand packets, and a handshaking methodology for telecommand; and

wherein the switching module includes an electronic switch controlled by a microcontroller, wherein the switch enables the microcontroller to process manual telecommands from a remote station, and wherein the microcontroller implements a shared mode of operation by determining whether control is performed by a flight management system or through the manual telecommand.

12. The modular avionics framework of claim 11 wherein the control module comprises an SBC.

13. The modular avionics framework of claim 11 wherein the control command from the remote control station comprises a telecommand.

14. The modular avionics framework of claim 11 wherein the control module comprises a software architecture for autonomous flight of UAV, which further includes a sensor data acquisition module, an error correction module for sensor accuracy, a vertical/lateral guidance module, a flight control module, a telemetry and telecommand module, and a payload module.

15. The modular avionics framework of claim 11 wherein the data acquisition module comprises a switching module that includes an electronic switch controlled by a microcontroller, wherein the switch enables the on board system to switch between an autonomous mode of control and more than one type of manual control.

16. The modular avionics framework of claim 15 wherein the types of manual control include RC control or remote piloting using RF.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the power module selectively provides powering ON or powering OFF the on board sub systems remotely from ground station using telecommands, transmits power health status signals to the ground control station, and provides over current protection features.

18. A modular avionics system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the system comprising:

means for executing flight control and vertical and lateral guidance algorithms to generate control commands;

means for communicating with a remote control station and receiving control commands from the remote control station;

means for communicating with the means for executing and the means for communicating with a remote control station, and for receiving and processing data from one or more onboard sensors and actuating a plurality of servo motors in response to control commands; and

means for switching to selectively couple the means for communicating to the control module or to the data link module responsive to an input from the remote control station to respectively switch between a fully autonomous mode of UAV operation and a manual mode of UAV operation;

wherein the means for executing flight control and vertical and lateral guidance algorithms to generate control commands comprises a telemetry/telecommand module with a communication protocol that includes classification of the telemetry data, prioritizing the classified data, customizing header format for the telemetry and telecommand packets, and a handshaking methodology for telecommand

wherein the means for switching includes an electronic switch controlled by a microcontroller, wherein the switch enables the microcontroller to process manual telecommands from a remote station, and wherein the microcontroller implements a shared mode of operation by the microcontroller determining whether control is performed by a flight management system or through the manual telecommand.

19. The system of claim 18 and further comprising a power module that selectively provides powering ON or powering OFF portions of the means elements from ground station using telecommands, transmits power health status signals to the ground control station, and provides over current protection features.