An external operating platform, unmanned helicopter and power-on inspection method thereof

Abstract

The application provides an external operation platform, which comprises a communication module connected with a HUMS system of an unmanned helicopter, the HUMS system being connected with a flight control and management system and an integrated task processing system respectively; the communication module is used for sending an instruction signal to the HUMS system; the communication module is also used for receiving maintenance self-detection data and equipment working parameters sent by the HUMS system and sending the maintenance self-detection data and the equipment working parameters to a decoding module; the decoding module is connected with the communication module, and the decoding module is used for receiving and decoding the maintenance self-detection data and the equipment working parameters; meanwhile, the application also provides an unmanned helicopter and a power-on inspection method thereof.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of unmanned helicopter maintenance and testing technology, and in particular relates to an external operating platform, an unmanned helicopter and a method for checking its power-on. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of unmanned technology, more and more unmanned equipment is being applied to fields such as firefighting and medical care, and unmanned helicopters are becoming increasingly comprehensive in terms of models and functions. Power-on testing, as a common method for determining the operational status of electronic equipment in unmanned helicopters, is widely used in the production and use stages of unmanned helicopters. For example, in scenarios such as final assembly, pre-flight inspection, re-flight inspection, post-flight inspection, and after replacement of faulty parts, power-on testing is used to determine whether the unmanned helicopter can function normally.

[0003] However, since no personnel are on board the unmanned helicopter during use and maintenance, and it can only be remotely controlled via a ground station, the efficiency of use and maintenance is significantly reduced. During power-on checks, one operator is often required at the ground station while another observes nearby, which is not only inefficient but also increases the risk of errors. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention: To provide a rapid method for power-on inspection of unmanned helicopters, avoiding remote operation between the unmanned helicopter and the ground station during the power-on inspection process, and simplifying the operation procedure of power-on inspection, which can significantly improve the power-on inspection operation of unmanned helicopters, thereby improving the use and maintenance efficiency of unmanned helicopters.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides an external operating platform, the external operating platform comprising:

[0006] The communication module is connected to the HUMS system of the unmanned helicopter, which is connected to the flight control and management system and the integrated mission processing system; the communication module is used to send command signals to the HUMS system.

[0007] The communication module is also used to receive maintenance self-test data and equipment operating parameters sent by the HUMS system, and send the maintenance self-test data and equipment operating parameters to the decoding module;

[0008] A decoding module, connected to the communication module, is used to receive and decode the maintenance self-test data and equipment operating parameters.

[0009] Preferably, the external operating platform ring includes:

[0010] The display module is used to receive the decoded data sent by the decoding module and display the data.

[0011] Secondly, this application also provides an unmanned helicopter, the unmanned helicopter comprising:

[0012] The HUMS system connects to the communication module of the external operating platform;

[0013] The flight control and management system is connected to the HUMS system.

[0014] Preferably, the unmanned helicopter further includes:

[0015] An integrated task processing system is connected to the HUMS system.

[0016] Thirdly, this application also provides a method for checking the power supply of an unmanned helicopter, the method comprising:

[0017] Full-scale power-on check;

[0018] System-level power-on check;

[0019] Equipment-level power-on check.

[0020] Preferably, the whole-machine-level power-on check includes:

[0021] The external operating platform sends a power-on check command for the entire machine. After processing by the HUMS system, the command is sent to system 1 first, and then to system 2 after receiving the result. This process continues until all systems are checked. The data is then transmitted back to the external operating platform, completing the power-on check for the entire machine.

[0022] Preferably, the system-level power-on check includes:

[0023] The external operating platform sends a system-level power-on check command. After being processed by the HUMS system, the command is sent to device number 1 according to the pre-set device sequence. After receiving the result, the command for device number 2 is sent, and so on. After the check of all devices in the system is completed, the data is transmitted back to the external operating platform to complete the system-level power-on check.

[0024] Preferably, the device-level power-on check includes:

[0025] The external operating platform sends a power-on check command to the device. After being processed by the HUMS system, the device receives the command, begins maintenance self-testing, and transmits the test results back to the external operating platform. The results are then decoded by the decoding module and displayed on the display module. Detailed data viewing and command operations can also be performed on the device from the external operating platform.

[0026] The beneficial technical effects of this application are as follows:

[0027] The power-on inspection provided in this application is a frequently used maintenance item for UAVs. By employing a portable operating platform, this invention eliminates the need for ground stations to perform power-on inspections, significantly reducing operation time and avoiding discrepancies between the personnel performing the inspection and verifying the results. This effectively mitigates the risk of errors and improves the efficiency of UAV maintenance. Furthermore, by optimizing the system's interconnectivity structure, implementing reasonable system layering, and planning different tasks, the efficiency of power-on inspections for unmanned helicopters is greatly enhanced. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the principle of a method for rapid power-on inspection of an unmanned helicopter, as provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0029] This invention introduces a method for rapid power-on inspection of unmanned helicopters. Power-on inspection, a common maintenance method for determining the operational status of electronic equipment in unmanned helicopters, often requires ground station assistance. To avoid the drawback of relying solely on remote operation via ground station during power-on inspections, this invention provides a rapid power-on inspection method that eliminates the need for remote operation via ground station.

[0030] Appendix Figure 1 The connection method between the portable external operating platform and the unmanned helicopter is described, as well as the interconnection relationship of the power-on inspection part inside the unmanned helicopter, and the power-on inspection function that the portable external operating platform can achieve.

[0031] First, the method of this invention connects to the HUMS system of an unmanned helicopter via a portable external operating platform using an AFDX wired connection. This method offers the advantages of simplicity, speed, reliability, and ease of replacement in case of cable failure. Power-on checks of the unmanned helicopter's electronic equipment are performed on the portable external operating platform. Operators only need to stand around the unmanned helicopter and hold the platform to perform the checks, eliminating the need for remote operation from a ground station. To enable power-on checks of the unmanned helicopter's electronic equipment via the external operating platform, data cross-linking between the HUMS system and other electronic systems or devices is required. To avoid overly complex cross-linking between the HUMS and each device or system, the design fully utilizes the existing cross-linking methods of unmanned helicopters. Considering that most electronic systems or devices are cross-linked with the flight control computer or integrated mission processing system, this invention only cross-links the HUMS system with the flight control computer and integrated mission processing system via a bus, simplifying the complexity of cross-linking between systems. After establishing the necessary cross-linking relationships for power-on checks, the design of the portable external operating platform addresses the issue of unmanned helicopters containing numerous electrical systems or devices, aiming to avoid disordered and chaotic power-on checks.

[0032] This invention employs a system-based hierarchical approach, treating each system of the unmanned helicopter (such as the avionics system, electrical system, etc.) as an independent power-on inspection item.

[0033] Then, within each system, the electrical equipment within the system is treated as an independent power-on inspection item, and they are sequentially numbered.

[0034] During the power-on inspection, the target equipment can be quickly inspected by selecting each layer on a portable external operating platform, or a single system can be selected for power-on inspection directly. Following a pre-set sequence number, the power-on inspection of each device is completed sequentially, thus finishing the power-on inspection of the entire system. If necessary, the entire unmanned helicopter can also be inspected directly. Following a pre-set sequence number, the power-on inspection of each system is completed, thus finishing the power-on inspection of the unmanned helicopter.

[0035] In addition to employing a system-based hierarchical approach to improve the efficiency of power-on checks, this method also adopts a task-requirement-based approach to conduct power-on checks in different scenarios. This is because the power-on checks after replacing faulty components often differ from those before flight. Power-on checks after replacing faulty components are often more comprehensive, sometimes requiring certain operations. Pre-flight power-on checks, on the other hand, typically only check the essential functions of critical equipment without requiring operation, and the checks for subsequent flights are even fewer. Therefore, by adopting this task-requirement-based approach and setting different check items for different tasks, the efficiency of power-on checks can be improved. Considering that as the flight time of unmanned helicopters increases, some equipment may no longer require power-on checks, while others, due to increased operating time, may experience increased malfunctions and require more frequent power-on checks, these can all be adjusted within the task requirements, and even customized power-on check items can be implemented.

[0036] It should be noted that:

[0037] 1. By connecting to a portable operating platform, power-on checks of the drone can be performed without the need for a ground station;

[0038] 2. Using the HUMS system as the carrier for completing power-on checks, optimize the interconnection relationships of various electronic systems in the unmanned helicopter to avoid complex and redundant system interconnections;

[0039] 3. Based on a hierarchical approach, disordered and chaotic power-on checks are avoided, enabling power-on checks of individual devices, systems, and the entire machine;

[0040] 4. Based on task requirements, optimize power-on inspection items in different scenarios to avoid repetitive and unnecessary inspection items.

[0041] In other embodiments of this application, the power-on check operation steps are described (taking the power-on check of the laser inertial navigation equipment of the avionics system as an example):

[0042] Step 1: Activate the power-on check command signal for the laser inertial navigation device under the avionics system menu on the portable external operating platform. At this time, the portable external operating platform will display "Laser inertial navigation device is powering on for check".

[0043] Step 2: The command signal is transmitted to the HUMS system via the AFDX bus;

[0044] Step 3: The HUMS system receives and processes the command signal, and transmits the command signal to the integrated mission processing system for unified planning via the bus on the unmanned helicopter;

[0045] Step 4: After receiving the power-on check command signal, the integrated mission processing system will transmit the command signal to the laser inertial navigation equipment at an appropriate time according to the current mission schedule of the unmanned helicopter.

[0046] Step 5: After receiving the power-on check command, the laser inertial navigation device enters maintenance mode and begins maintenance self-testing;

[0047] Step 6: After the maintenance self-test of the laser inertial navigation equipment is completed, the maintenance self-test result data is packaged and sent to the flight control management system;

[0048] Step 7: The flight control management system does not process this data in any way and directly transmits it to the HUMS system;

[0049] Step 8: The HUMS system transmits the maintenance self-test data to the portable external operating platform via the AFDX bus;

[0050] Step 9: The portable external operating platform decodes the maintenance self-test data according to the pre-set protocol and displays it on the interface. The "Detailed Check" command will appear at the bottom of the interface.

[0051] Step 10: First, the first line of the interface displays the system name, such as "Laser Inertial Navigation Equipment." The second line displays the current software version of the device, such as "V2.3.0." Maintenance personnel should first verify that the system name and software version are correct to ensure the accuracy of the object being checked. The third line indicates whether the system has any faults, such as "No Fault." If a fault is detected, relevant fault information will be displayed below, including the fault code and the time the fault occurred. Maintenance personnel can then use this fault information for further troubleshooting.

[0052] Step 11: At this point, only a preliminary assessment of whether the laser inertial navigation device is functioning correctly can be made. This step is often used for quick power-on checks of the device before or during flight. If a detailed power-on check is required, the "Detailed Check" command can be activated, which will take you to the detailed check interface of the laser inertial navigation device.

[0053] Step 12: After activating the command, it sends the command signal to the HUMS system via the AFDX bus. At this time, the HUMS system receives the working data sent in real time by the laser inertial navigation device to the flight control management system, and transmits the working data to the portable external operating platform via the AFDX bus. After decoding, the interface will display relevant working parameters of the laser inertial navigation device, such as "alignment longitude," "alignment latitude," and "alignment altitude." Maintenance personnel can then use this information to further assess the working status of the laser inertial navigation device.

[0054] Step 13: In addition to reading the working data, the detailed inspection interface will also display operation command buttons such as "Navigation Alignment" (Note: the operation button functions are different for different devices). You can send the command signal by clicking the "Navigation Alignment" operation command.

[0055] Step 14: After the command signal is sent to the HUMS system via the AFDX bus, the HUMS system sends the command signal to the integrated task processing system. The integrated task processing system sends the signal to the laser inertial navigation device at an appropriate time. The laser inertial navigation device begins to execute the "alignment" command. After alignment is completed, the new working status parameters are transmitted back to the portable external operating platform for maintenance personnel to read and analyze.

[0056] Step 15: At this point, the power-on check of the laser inertial navigation device is complete. If each step is normal, the device is considered to be working properly. At this point, the software can be closed or other power-on check commands can be sent to begin power-on checks of other systems.

Claims

1. An external operating platform, characterized in that, The external operating platform is used for power-on detection based on a system-level hierarchical method, and the external operating platform includes: The communication module is connected to the HUMS system of the unmanned helicopter, which is connected to the flight control and management system and the integrated mission processing system; the communication module is used to send command signals to the HUMS system. The communication module is also used to receive maintenance self-test data and equipment operating parameters sent by the HUMS system, and send the maintenance self-test data and equipment operating parameters to the decoding module; A decoding module, connected to the communication module, is used to receive and decode the maintenance self-test data and equipment operating parameters.

2. The external operating platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The external operating platform ring includes: The display module is used to receive the decoded data sent by the decoding module and display the data.

3. An unmanned helicopter, characterized in that, The unmanned helicopter is used in the external operating platform as described in claim 1, and the unmanned helicopter includes: The HUMS system connects to the communication module of the external operating platform; The flight control and management system is connected to the HUMS system.

4. The unmanned helicopter according to claim 3, characterized in that, The unmanned helicopter also includes: An integrated task processing system is connected to the HUMS system.

5. A method for checking the power supply of an unmanned helicopter, characterized in that, The method includes: Full-scale power-on check; System-level power-on check; Equipment-level power-on check; The aforementioned system-wide power-on check includes: The external operating platform sends a power-on check command for the entire machine. After being processed by the HUMS system, the command is sent to system 1 first, and then to system 2 after receiving the result. This process continues until all systems are checked. The data is then transmitted back to the external operating platform to complete the power-on check for the entire machine. The system-level power-on check includes: The external operating platform sends a system-level power-on check command. After being processed by the HUMS system, the command is sent to device number 1 according to the pre-set device sequence. After receiving the result, the command for device number 2 is sent, and so on. After the check of all devices in the system is completed, the data is transmitted back to the external operating platform to complete the system-level power-on check. The device-level power-on check includes: The external operating platform sends a power-on check command to the device. After being processed by the HUMS system, the device receives the command, begins maintenance self-testing, and transmits the test results back to the external operating platform. The results are then decoded by the decoding module and displayed on the display module. Detailed data viewing and command operations can also be performed on the device from the external operating platform.

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