Method of electric rudder system with configurable communication protocol

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for an electric rudder system with a configurable communication protocol, and the method comprises a power-on verification step, and the power-on verification step comprises the following sub-steps: after the system is powered on, obtaining a plurality of groups of parameters related to the communication protocol at a specific storage address in a storage chip, and calculating a first verification value composed of the plurality of groups of parameters; and judging whether the first verification value is the same as a second verification value of a specific storage address in the storage chip or not, if the first verification value is the same as the second verification value, passing verification, using the communication protocol loaded in the storage chip, and reporting a communication protocol loading success state. According to the invention, the productization work of the electric rudder system can be promoted, and the problem that the communication module of the electric rudder system cannot be universalized due to different communication protocols of rudder systems of different models is solved; and the communication protocol is stored in the storage chip, and the configurable function of the communication protocol can be realized only by adding the storage chip, so that the research and development cost of the electric rudder system is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates, and more particularly, to a method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system. Background Technology

[0002] As a key actuator in aerospace flight control systems, the performance and reliability of the electric rudder system directly affect the aircraft's handling quality and mission success. In practical applications, the rudder system establishes a connection with the flight control computer via onboard or aircraft cables, forming a closed-loop control system: it receives control surface deflection commands from the flight control system in real time, while simultaneously feeding back its own status data (such as position and temperature), thereby achieving precise control of the flight attitude.

[0003] However, under the current R&D and application model, a prominent contradiction lies in the fact that different steering systems often have specific requirements for communication protocols (such as message format, baud rate, command set, etc.). Therefore, each steering system requires separate software design (at least requiring design modifications to the software communication part), which not only hinders productization but also increases product development costs (re-designing, testing, and verification). Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a method for an electric steering system with a configurable communication protocol.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution: A first aspect of the present invention provides a method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system, including a power-on verification step, the power-on verification step comprising the following sub-steps: After the system is powered on, it acquires multiple sets of parameters related to the communication protocol located at a specific storage address in the storage chip, and calculates the first verification value composed of the multiple sets of parameters. Determine whether the first check value is the same as the second check value located at a specific storage address in the storage chip. If the first check value and the second check value are the same, the check passes. Use the communication protocol loaded in the storage chip and report the successful loading status of the communication protocol.

[0006] Furthermore, the acquisition of multiple sets of communication protocol-related parameters located at a specific storage address in the memory chip includes: acquiring any two or more parameters from "baud rate", "communication cycle", "frame header", "instruction type ID", "feedback data type ID", "frame length", "software limit value" and "verification method".

[0007] Furthermore, calculating the first verification value composed of multiple sets of parameters includes summing the multiple sets of parameters to obtain the first verification value.

[0008] Furthermore, the power-on verification step also includes the following sub-steps: If the first and second check values ​​fail to be verified, the system's default communication protocol will be used, and a communication protocol loading failure will be reported.

[0009] Furthermore, the method also includes a communication protocol configuration step, which comprises the following sub-steps: Receive communication protocol configuration instructions; Write the communication protocol data from the communication protocol configuration instruction to a specific memory address in the memory chip.

[0010] Furthermore, the method also includes a servo control and feedback step following the power-on verification step, the servo control and feedback step comprising the following sub-steps: The system receives and parses data according to the communication protocol. If the data is valid, the system controls the servo motor according to the corresponding position in the data frame. The agreed parameters are framed, and a rudder system feedback data frame is sent at fixed intervals according to the communication period specified in the communication protocol.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this invention are: In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, after the rudder system is powered on, the communication protocol is loaded from the storage chip and used after verification. This can promote the commercialization of electric rudder systems and solve the problem that the "communication module" of electric rudder systems cannot be universally used due to the different communication protocols of different models of rudder systems. Furthermore, it is scalable, as the communication protocol is stored in the storage chip, and the configurable function of the communication protocol can be realized by simply adding a storage chip, thereby reducing the R&D cost of electric rudder systems. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the composition of the servo controller of the electric servo system provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0014] First see Figure 1 , Figure 1 A diagram showing the composition of the servo controller of an electric servo system provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0015] The electric servo system communicates with the host computer via a communication chip (receiving command data from the host computer and sending servo system feedback data back to the host computer). The servo's position feedback signal is conditioned by a conditioning circuit (conditioned to a voltage range recognizable by the AD chip while being filtered), and then time-divisionally input to the AD chip via a path selection chip for analog-to-digital conversion, used for servo system position closed-loop and data feedback. The CPU uses the received servo control commands from the host computer and the AD-converted servo position feedback data to perform PID calculations, generating a PWM signal to control the servo's movement. After isolation by an isolation chip (separating the drive circuit from the control circuit to prevent the drive circuit from affecting the control circuit), it is sent to the motor drive chip, amplified, and then used to drive the servo. The storage chip stores the servo system's zero-position data, control parameters, and communication protocol (not lost when power is off), which is automatically loaded into each module after the servo system is powered on, and used after verification. The status indicator chip is used to indicate whether the system software is running normally.

[0016] See Figure 2 , Figure 2 The flowchart illustrates a method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, including a power-on verification step, which includes the following sub-steps: After the system is powered on, it acquires multiple sets of parameters related to the communication protocol located at a specific storage address in the storage chip, and calculates the first check value CHECK_SUM1 composed of the multiple sets of parameters. Determine whether the first check value CHECK_SUM1 is the same as the second check value CHECK_SUM located at a specific storage address in the storage chip. If the first check value CHECK_SUM1 and the second check value CHECK_SUM are the same, the check passes. Use the communication protocol loaded in the storage chip and report the successful loading status of the communication protocol.

[0017] Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, the communication protocol is stored in specific addresses on the memory chip (the storage addresses correspond one-to-one with the "parameters" in the communication protocol that may change, and the data in these addresses can be modified by sending commands). After the rudder system is powered on again, the data in these addresses is loaded, and the data is verified to be correct before use, thereby realizing the configurable function of the rudder system's communication protocol. Because the rudder system loads the data after power-on and uses it only after verification, it avoids the need for separate software design for each rudder system due to different "communication protocols" required by different users, reducing the increase in rudder system design and development costs and providing technical support for the productization of the rudder system.

[0018] Therefore, this exemplary embodiment can promote the commercialization of electric steering systems, solve the problem that the "communication module" of electric steering systems cannot be universalized due to different communication protocols of different models of steering systems; and it is also scalable, as the communication protocol is stored in a memory chip, and the configurable function of the communication protocol can be realized by simply adding a memory chip, thereby reducing the R&D cost of electric steering systems.

[0019] More preferably, in an exemplary embodiment, the step of obtaining multiple sets of communication protocol-related parameters located at a specific storage address in the memory chip includes obtaining any two or more parameters from "baud rate", "communication cycle", "frame header", "instruction type ID", "feedback data type ID", "frame length", "software limit value" and "verification method".

[0020] Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, the "parts that may change" in the communication protocol are stored in a specific address of the memory chip, making the configuration process and configuration results more realistic.

[0021] More preferably, in an exemplary embodiment, calculating the first verification value composed of multiple sets of parameters includes summing the multiple sets of parameters to obtain the first verification value.

[0022] Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, the computation method is simple and highly efficient; this low-overhead advantage is very significant for scenarios requiring high-speed data processing. Furthermore, it consumes few resources: on devices with limited computing power, it uses very few CPU cycles and memory.

[0023] More preferably, in an exemplary embodiment, the power-on verification step further includes the following sub-steps: If the first and second check values ​​fail to be verified, the system's default communication protocol will be used, and a communication protocol loading failure will be reported.

[0024] Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment: (1) It achieves safe degradation and continued operation under fault conditions. Even if the verification fails (indicating that the loaded custom or new communication protocol may be corrupted), the system will not be bricked or completely crash. Instead, it can automatically fall back to a preset, reliable safe state. (2) It also ensures the most basic system controllability. The default communication protocol of the rudder system is usually an extremely simple, stable, and widely verified protocol (built into ROM or a protected storage area). Falling back to it ensures that the host computer can still establish the most basic communication with the rudder system and send key commands (e.g., stop, zero, maintain safe position, etc.). This is crucial for safety-critical systems (aerospace field). Losing communication means losing control, and this method fundamentally avoids the worst-case "out-of-control" situation. (3) Finally, it provides clear and reportable fault diagnosis information, that is, it does not just silently degrade operation, but actively informs the host computer what kind of fault has occurred.

[0025] More preferably, in an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes a communication protocol configuration step, which includes the following sub-steps: Receive communication protocol configuration instructions; Write the communication protocol data from the communication protocol configuration instruction to a specific memory address in the memory chip.

[0026] Specifically, in existing technologies, if a user changes the "communication protocol" or another user proposes a different "communication protocol" based on their own needs, the rudder system software needs to be redesigned, and software testing and product trials need to be redone. However, the method in this exemplary embodiment, by writing the communication protocol into a memory chip, loads the communication protocol from the memory chip after the rudder system is powered on, verifies it, and then uses it. Furthermore, it can be modified via commands, thereby improving the versatility of the rudder system software and reducing product development costs.

[0027] More preferably, in an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes a servo control and feedback step following the power-on verification step, the servo control and feedback step comprising the following sub-steps: The system receives and parses data according to the communication protocol. If the data is valid, the system controls the servo motor according to the corresponding position in the data frame. The agreed parameters are framed, and a rudder system feedback data frame is sent at fixed intervals according to the communication period specified in the communication protocol.

[0028] Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, data can be received according to the baud rate specified in the communication protocol, and then the received data can be parsed according to information such as the frame header, command type ID, frame length, and verification method. If the data is "valid" (conforms to the agreed format), the data at the corresponding position in the data frame is limited according to the software limit value, and then used for servo control and other operations; at the same time, the data is framed according to the agreed frame header, feedback data type ID, frame length, verification method, and the position feedback data, temperature data, current data, and servo system status data collected by the servo system, and a servo system feedback data frame is sent at fixed intervals according to the communication period specified in the communication protocol.

[0029] Additionally, it should be noted that, to ensure the reliability of the steering system, the steering system communication protocol is only loaded once after the steering system is powered on and initialized. After loading, it will not be loaded and used again until the end of this power-on cycle.

[0030] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system, characterized in that: The power-on verification step includes the following sub-steps: After the system is powered on, it acquires multiple sets of parameters related to the communication protocol located at a specific storage address in the storage chip, and calculates the first verification value composed of the multiple sets of parameters. Determine whether the first check value is the same as the second check value located at a specific storage address in the storage chip. If the first check value and the second check value are the same, the check passes. Use the communication protocol loaded in the storage chip and report the successful loading status of the communication protocol.

2. The method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The acquisition of multiple sets of communication protocol-related parameters located at a specific memory address in the memory chip includes: acquiring any two or more of the following parameters: "baud rate", "communication cycle", "frame header", "instruction type ID", "feedback data type ID", "frame length", "software limit value" and "verification method".

3. The method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The calculation of the first verification value, which is composed of multiple sets of parameters, includes summing the multiple sets of parameters to obtain the first verification value.

4. The method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power-on verification step also includes the following sub-steps: If the first and second check values ​​fail to be verified, the system's default communication protocol will be used, and a communication protocol loading failure will be reported.

5. The method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further includes a communication protocol configuration step, which includes the following sub-steps: Receive communication protocol configuration instructions; Write the communication protocol data from the communication protocol configuration instruction to a specific memory address in the memory chip.

6. The method for a communication protocol-configurable electric steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further includes a servo control and feedback step following the power-on verification step, which includes the following sub-steps: The system receives and parses data according to the communication protocol. If the data is valid, the system controls the servo motor according to the corresponding position in the data frame. The agreed parameters are framed, and a rudder system feedback data frame is sent at fixed intervals according to the communication period specified in the communication protocol.

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