METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE PERFORMANCE OF AN AIRCRAFT DOOR CLOSING CONTROL SYSTEM
The method using proximity sensors and mathematical functions to calculate a performance indicator for aircraft door closure systems addresses the need for reliable monitoring, enabling timely maintenance alerts and reducing operational disruptions.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE PERFORMANCE OF AN AIRCRAFT DOOR CLOSING CONTROL SYSTEM technical field
[0001] The field of the invention is that of health monitoring and aircraft maintenance.
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for monitoring the performance of a door closure control system of an aircraft.
[0003] The present invention also relates to a monitoring system adapted to the implementation of such a method, an aircraft comprising such a system, as well as a computer program product and a storage medium enabling the implementation of such a method. STATE OF PRIOR ART
[0004] Aircraft are subjected to extreme conditions when they are in the air, particularly in terms of variations in temperature, pressure and speed. The performance of their components must be regularly checked to ensure their proper functioning.
[0005] Preventive or predictive maintenance consists of carrying out checks and repairs before a breakdown occurs.
[0006] In the field of aeronautics, maintenance makes it possible in particular to improve the availability and performance of an aircraft by avoiding its immobilization on the ground (AOG, for "Aircraft On Ground" in English), and to reduce maintenance costs by making it possible to identify in advance maintenance operations based on the actual performance of the aircraft.
[0007] Monitoring the aircraft's health status for maintenance purposes includes collecting technical data from the moment the aircraft is powered on, then during flight and until it is shut down. The data thus collected is used in particular to calculate the various indicators on which maintenance is based, and therefore the scheduling of maintenance operations.
[0008] The use of data can take place during the flight (this is referred to as in-flight health monitoring) and / or after the flight (for example, if the volume of data to be processed requires higher computing resources).
[0009] Furthermore, calculations using the collected data can be performed in the aircraft and / or in one or more ground-based devices. In the latter case, the Ground-based equipment (computers) receive, in real time or with a delay, the data collected in the aircraft.
[0010] Observing the condition of an aircraft over several flights allows ground personnel to make decisions and plan maintenance operations in advance, thus saving valuable execution time. Ground personnel can then make appropriate decisions based on criticality, logistics, and upcoming maintenance checks, and prepare repairs and replacements in advance.
[0011] As part of this maintenance, there is a particular need to monitor the performance of an aircraft door closure control system. To this end, a reliable and easy-to-calculate performance indicator for the aircraft door closure control system is required, one that allows for the anticipation of potential operational interruptions by triggering maintenance alerts sufficiently in advance. Description of the invention
[0012] A method for monitoring the performance of a door closure control system on an aircraft is proposed herein. The door is equipped with a plurality of proximity sensors that measure distance values from which logical values are obtained. These logical values are used to control the door's closed state based on a logical combination of the logical values with logical operators. The method is implemented by a performance monitoring system for the door closure control system in the form of electronic circuitry. The method comprises:
[0013] - obtain the distance values measured by the plurality of proximity sensors;
[0014] - calculate a value of a performance indicator of the control system closing the door, based on a combination of mathematical functions that uses distance values as input values and is a transposition of the logical combination in which each type of logical operator of the logical combination is replaced by a particular mathematical function; and
[0015] - trigger an alert if a triggering condition, depending on the value the performance indicator of the door closing control system is checked.
[0016] Thus, it is possible to monitor the degradation of an aircraft door, thanks to a door degradation indicator that is reliable and simple to calculate.
[0017] According to a particular embodiment, the transposition of the logical combination is such that:
[0018] - the AND logic operator, applied to two logic values denoted A and B and supplied by two given sensors, is replaced by the mathematical function MAX(A',B'), with A' and B' being the distance values measured by the two given sensors; and
[0019] - the OR logical operator, applied to two logical values denoted A and B and supplied by two given sensors, is replaced by a mathematical function T(A',B') with A' and B' being distance values measured by the two given sensors, belonging to the group comprising:
[0020] - T(A', B') = K.AVERAGE(A', B'), with K >= 1; and
[0021] - T(A',B') = K.MIN(A',B'), with K>=1.
[0022] According to a particular embodiment, the transposition of the logic combination is such that a logic operator ">= 2" providing the output value "1" if at least two input logic values have the value "1", applied to three logic values denoted A, B and C and provided by three given sensors, is replaced by the following mathematical function: "MAX [T(A',B'), T(B',C'), T(A',C')]", with A', B' and C' being distance values measured by the three given sensors.
[0023] According to a particular embodiment, the method includes normalizing and clipping the distance values to obtain normalized and clipped distance values, and wherein the calculation of a value of the performance indicator of the door closing control system is carried out with the normalized and clipped distance values.
[0024] According to a particular embodiment, the normalization and clipping of the distance values comprises:
[0025] - a value assignment such that if a distance value, denoted "gap":
[0026] * is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value RI, the value of normalized and clipped distance, denoted "norm_gap" is written: norm_gap = gap;
[0027] * is less than the first reference value RI, the normalized distance value and clipped, noted "norm_gap" is written: norm_gap = gap / G_MAX, with G_MAX a maximum value of a range of predetermined distance values for the proximity sensor that provided the "gap" distance value;
[0028] - if after assignment the normalized and clipped distance value "norm_gap" is greater than 1 and less than the first predetermined value RI, the normalized and clipped distance value "norm_gap" is modified to take a second predetermined value R2 such that: 1 < R2 < RI.
[0029] According to a particular embodiment, the alert belongs to the group comprising:
[0030] - a first alert, indicating a first level of severity, if the value of The performance indicator of the door closing control system is equal to a first predetermined value V1 during a first time window; and
[0031] - a second alert, indicating a second level of severity lower than the first severity level, if the value of the performance indicator of the door closing control system is within a range of values [V2, VI[ during a second time window, with V2 a second predetermined value lower than the first value VI.
[0032] A computer program product is also proposed, comprising instructions leading to the execution, by a processor, of the process mentioned above according to any one of its embodiments, when said instructions are executed by the processor.
[0033] A storage medium is also proposed, storing such instructions.
[0034] A system for monitoring the performance of a system is also proposed. aircraft door closure control, the door being equipped with a plurality of proximity sensors measuring distance values from which logical values are obtained, used to control the door closure state based on a logical combination of logical values with logical operators, the door closure control system performance monitoring system comprising electronic circuitry configured to implement:
[0035] - obtain the distance values measured by the plurality of proximity sensors;
[0036] - calculate a value of a performance indicator of the control system closing the door, based on a combination of mathematical functions that uses distance values as input values and is a transposition of the logical combination in which each type of logical operator of the logical combination is replaced by a particular mathematical function; and
[0037] - trigger an alert if a triggering condition, depending on the value the performance indicator of the door closing control system is checked.
[0038] An aircraft is also proposed comprising at least one door and the aforementioned system for monitoring the performance of a door closure control system (in any of its various embodiments). Brief description of the drawings
[0039] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:
[0040] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates, in side view, an aircraft equipped with a performance monitoring system for a control system for closing one (or more) aircraft door(s);
[0041] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates an example of the system's hardware architecture monitoring the performance of a control system for closing one (or more) aircraft door(s);
[0042] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates an example of a logical combination of signals to check the closing status of a first type of door;
[0043] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates an example of a logical combination of signals to check the closing status of a second type of door;
[0044] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates an example of a logical combination of signals to check the closing status of a third type of door;
[0045] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates an example of a logical combination of signals to check the closing status of a fourth type of door;
[0046] [Fig.7] schematically illustrates the detail of a logical operator block “>=2”; and
[0047] [Fig.8] schematically illustrates an example of a monitoring algorithm for the performance of an aircraft door closing control system.
[0048] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IMPROVEMENTS
[0049] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates, in side view, an aircraft 100 equipped with doors 102 and a system 101 for monitoring the performance of a control system for closing these doors.
[0050] For the sake of simplicity, only a few doors 102 are shown in [Fig. 1]. In general, an aircraft has many doors, for example: - passenger doors (“PAX Doors” or “Passenger Doors” in English); - a front cargo compartment door (“FWD Cargo Compartment Door” in English); - a rear cargo compartment door (“AFT Cargo Compartment Door” in English); - a bulk cargo compartment door; and - an avionics compartment door (“Avionic Compartment Door” in English).
[0051] Each door is conventionally equipped with a plurality of proximity sensors measuring distance values. Typically, each proximity sensor measures a distance (also called "gap" in English) between the tip of the sensor and a target element ("target" in English).
[0052] For example, a proximity sensor is installed on a surface of the door which, when the door is in the closed position, is aligned with a target element installed on a surface of the aircraft structure (fuselage) surrounding the door. In one embodiment, the positions of the proximity sensor and the target element are reversed: the target element is installed on a surface of the door and the proximity sensor is installed on a surface of the aircraft structure surrounding the door. The closed position of the door can thus be verified by means of the measured distance (gap): by For example, if the measured distance is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold (in the case of a measured value called "Near"), the proximity sensor is considered to provide a logic value of "1", which corresponds to a "closed" state, and if it is greater than the threshold (in the case of a measured value called "Far"), the proximity sensor is considered to provide a logic value of "0", which corresponds to an "open" state.
[0053] Proximity sensors can also be used to check whether a door latch element is in the latch position or not, and / or whether a door lock element is in the lock position or not.
[0054] Equipping each door with a plurality of proximity sensors provides a plurality of distance values, from which a plurality of logical values ("1" or "0") are obtained. By combining these logical values with logical operators (for example, the "AND" and "OR" operators), according to a specific logical combination, it is possible to control the door's closed state (see [Fig. 3] to 7). For example, the aircraft includes, for each passenger door, a dedicated computer (for example, of the LDC type, for "Local Door Control") that controls the door's closed state by checking the following three parameters: - door open or closed ("closed" or "open" in English); - door locked or unlocked (latched or unlatched in English); and - door locked or unlocked (in English).
[0055] As detailed later (see [Fig.8]), the system 101 for monitoring the performance of the door closing control system 102 allows, for each door, the calculation of a value of a performance indicator of the door closing control system (also referred to below as "DDI indicator", for "Door Degradation Indicator" in English) and the triggering of an alert if a triggering condition, based on the value of the DDI indicator, is met.
[0056] The door closing control system performance monitoring system 101 is an embedded electronic device. For example, it is part of the electronic circuitry of the aircraft avionics 100. Preferably, it is integrated into a computer of the aircraft 100.
[0057] In one variant, the aircraft 100 includes several systems 101 each enabling the monitoring of the performance of the closing control system of one or more doors 102.
[0058] In another variant, the system 101 for monitoring the performance of the control system for closing one or more doors is not carried on board the aircraft 100 but is present on the ground.
[0059] In another embodiment, the system 101 for monitoring the performance of the door closure control system comprises a first part that is installed in the aircraft 100 and a second part that is located on the ground. Thus, the calculations of the DDI indicator and the triggering of alerts can be distributed between the two parts of the system 101. For example, the first part calculates the value of the DDI indicator and the second part triggers the alerts.
[0060] In another variant, at least one system 101 for monitoring the performance of the closing control system of one or more doors is carried on board the aircraft and at least one system 101 for monitoring the performance of the closing control system of one or more other doors is installed on the ground.
[0061] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an example of the hardware architecture of the system 101 for monitoring the performance of the control system for closing one or more doors 102, which then comprises, connected by a communication bus 210: a processor or CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201; a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202; a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, for example a Flash memory; a data storage device, such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or a storage media reader, such as an SD (Secure Digital) card reader 204; at least one communication interface 205 allowing the system 101 for monitoring the performance of the control system for closing one or more doors 102 to interact in the avionics of the aircraft 100.
[0062] The processor 201 is capable of executing instructions loaded into RAM 202 from ROM 203, external memory (not shown), a storage medium such as an SD card, or a communication network (not shown). When the performance monitoring system 101 for the control system closing one or more doors 102 is powered on, the processor 201 is capable of reading instructions from RAM 202 and executing them. These instructions form a computer program causing the processor 201 to implement the behaviors, steps, and algorithm described herein.
[0063] All or part of the behaviors, steps, and algorithm described herein can thus be implemented in software form by executing a set of instructions by a programmable machine, such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a microcontroller, or be implemented in hardware form by a dedicated machine or component (chip) or a dedicated set of components (chipset), such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). Generally, the system 101 for monitoring the performance of the control system for closing one or more doors 102 comprises electronic circuitry. arranged and configured to implement the behaviors, steps, and algorithms described here.
[0064] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates an example of a logical combination of signals to control the closed state of a first type of door, namely a passenger door (“PAX Door”).
[0065] It is assumed that the door in question is equipped with five proximity sensors providing distance values (denoted PSI', PS2', PS3', PS4' and PS5' and not shown on [Fig.3]) from which logic values are obtained (denoted PSI, PS2, PS3, PS4 and PS5 and shown on [Fig.3]).
[0066] To control the closed state of the door, an output signal 304 is generated based on a logical combination of the logic values PSI, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PS5 with logical operators (an operator '>= 2' referenced 301 (see [Fig. 7]), an 'OR' operator referenced 302, and an 'AND' operator referenced 303). The output signal 304 takes the value '1' to indicate that the combination of the logic signals PSI to PS5 results in the door being considered closed, latched, and locked, respectively.
[0067] More specifically, the ">= 2" operator referenced 301 receives the PSI, PS2, and PS3 signals as input. The "OR" operator referenced 302 receives the PS4 and PS5 signals as input. The "AND" operator referenced 303 receives the output signals of the ">= 2" operator referenced 301 and the "OR" operator referenced 302 as input, and generates the output signal 304.
[0068] Fig. 4 schematically illustrates an example of a logical combination of signals to control the closed state of a second type of door, namely a front cargo compartment door (“FWD Cargo Compartment Door”) or a rear cargo compartment door (“AFT Cargo Compartment Door”).
[0069] It is assumed that the door in question is equipped with four proximity sensors providing distance values (noted CS1', CS2', CS3' and CS4' and not shown on [Fig.4]) from which logic values are obtained (noted CS1, CS2, CS3 and CS4 and shown on [Fig.4]).
[0070] To control the closed state of the door, an output signal 403 is generated based on a logical combination of the logical values CS1, CS2, CS3, and CS4 with logical operators (an "AND" operator referenced 401 and a ">= 2" operator referenced 402 (see [Fig. 7]). The output signal 403 takes the value "1" to indicate that the combination of the logical signals CS1 to CS4 results in the door being considered closed, latched, and locked, respectively.
[0071] More specifically, the "AND" operator referenced 401 receives the CS1 and CS4 signals as input. The ">= 2" operator referenced 402 receives the CS2 and CS3 signals as input, as well as the output signal of the "AND" operator 401, and generates the output signal 403.
[0072] Figure 5 schematically illustrates an example of a logical combination of signals to control the closed state of a third type of port, namely a Bulk Cargo Compartment Door.
[0073] It is assumed that the door under consideration is equipped with three proximity sensors providing distance values (denoted BS1', BS2' and BS3' and not shown on [Fig.5]) from which logic values are obtained (denoted BS1, BS2 and BS3 and shown on [Fig.5]).
[0074] To control the closed state of the door, an output signal 502 is generated based on a logical combination of the logic values BS1, BS2, and BS3 with a logical operator '>= 2' referenced 501 (see [Fig. 7]). The output signal 502 takes the value '1' to indicate that the combination of the logic signals BS1 to BS3 results in the door being considered closed, latched, and locked, respectively.
[0075] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an example of a logical combination of signals to control the closed state of a fourth type of door, namely an avionics compartment door.
[0076] It is assumed that the door under consideration is equipped with three proximity sensors providing distance values (denoted AS1', AS2' and AS3' and not shown on [Fig.6]) from which logic values are obtained (denoted AS1, AS2 and AS3 and shown on [Fig.6]).
[0077] To control the closed state of the door, an output signal 602 is generated based on a logical combination of the logic values CS1, CS2, and CS3 with a logical operator '>= 2' referenced 601 (see [Fig. 7]). The output signal 602 takes the value '1' to indicate that the combination of the logic signals CS1 to CS3 results in the door being considered closed, latched, and locked, respectively.
[0078] Fig. 7 schematically illustrates the detail of a logical operator block “>=2” referenced here as 700. It is referenced as 301 on Fig. 3, 402 on Fig. 4, 501 on Fig. 5 and 601 on Fig. 6.
[0079] The logical operator block “>=2” 700 comprises three logical “OR” operators referenced 704, 705 and 706 and one logical “AND” operator referenced 707.
[0080] More specifically, the "OR" operator referenced 704 receives as input the signals referenced 701 and 702. The "OR" operator referenced 705 receives as input the signals referenced 702 and 703. The "OR" operator referenced 706 receives as input the signals referenced 703 and 701. The "AND" operator referenced 707 receives as input the signals output of the three "OR" operators referenced 704, 705 and 706, and generates output signal 708. Output signal 708 takes the value "1" if at least two of the three logical input values 701, 702 and 703 have the value "1".
[0081] Figure 8 schematically illustrates an example of an algorithm for monitoring the performance of an aircraft door closure control system. It is executed by the performance monitoring system for a one (or more) door closure control system, which is referenced as 101 in Figure 1. In the following description, the performance monitoring of a single door closure control system is considered, and for illustrative purposes, only the case of a passenger door ("PAX Door") is considered.
[0082] In a step 801, the system 101 obtains the distance values measured by the plurality of proximity sensors. Thus, in the case of a passenger door equipped with five proximity sensors, the system 101 obtains the distance values PSI', PS2', PS3', PS4' and PS5', from which are obtained logical values PSI, PS2, PS3, PS4 and PS5 represented in [Fig.3].
[0083] In a step 802, the system 101 performs a normalization and a clipping of the distance values PSI', PS2', PS3', PS4' and PS5' in order to obtain normalized and clipped distance values PS1'n, PS2'n, PS3'n, PS4'n and PS5'n.
[0084] In a particular implementation, the normalization and clipping of distance values includes: - a value assignment such that if a distance value, denoted "gap": • is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value RI, the normalized and clipped distance value, denoted "norm_gap" is written: norm_gap = gap; • is less than the first reference value RI, the normalized and clipped distance value, denoted "norm_gap", is written: norm_gap = gap / G_MAX, with G_MAX a maximum value of a predetermined range of distance values (theoretical operating range) for the proximity sensor that provided the "gap" distance value. Here, we consider that G_MIN=0, with G_MIN the minimum value of the predetermined range of distance values (otherwise, in a variant, we take: norm_gap = (gap - G_MIN) / (G_MAX - G_MIN); - if, after assignment, the normalized and clipped distance value "norm_gap" is greater than 1 and less than the first predetermined value RI, the normalized and clipped distance value "norm_gap" is modified to take a second predetermined value R2 such that: 1 < R2 < RL
[0085] In an example embodiment, we have: - RI = 6, which corresponds to an example of an "out of range" value returned by a proximity sensor that was unable to measure the distance to its target element because the target element is more than 6 mm away; and - R2 = 1.2, which allows for a disruptive jump to strengthen the distances (gaps) that could be measured but are greater than G_MAX.
[0086] In a step 803, the system 101 calculates a value of the DDI indicator mentioned above (performance indicator of the door closing control system), based on a combination of mathematical functions which uses the normalized and clipped distance values as input values and which is a transposition of the logic combination in which each type of logic operator of the logic combination is replaced by a particular mathematical function.
[0087] In a particular implementation, the transposition of the logical combination is such that:
[0088] - the logical operator "AND", applied to two logical values denoted A and B and provided by two given sensors, is replaced by the mathematical function MAX(A',B'), where A' and B' are distance values measured by the two given sensors (then normalized and clipped). The choice of the MAX function here allows the DDI indicator to reflect the fact that if one of the two given sensors is faulty, the logic value (A or B) it provides will be equal to "0" and cause an output signal from the "AND" gate equal to "0" (equivalent to a logic value of "FALSE"); and
[0089] - the logical operator "OR", applied to two logical values denoted A and B and The function T(A',B') is replaced by a mathematical function T(A',B') where A' and B' are the distance values measured by the two given sensors (then normalized and clipped). In one embodiment, this function T(A',B') is: T(A',B') = K.AVERAGE(A',B'), with K >= 1. In another embodiment, this function T(A',B') is: T(A',B') = K.MIN(A',B'), with K >= 1. The choice of the function T here allows the DDI indicator to reflect the fact that the two given sensors must be degraded so that the logic values (A and B) they provide are equal to "0" and cause an output signal from the "OR" gate equal to "0" (equivalent to a logic value of "FALSE").
[0090] In the case of a passenger door (see [Fig.3] for the logical combination (of logical values) which is used to control the closed state of the door), the DDI indicator is calculated as follows: DDI = MAX (U,V)
[0091] with U = MAX [T(PSl'n, PS2'n), T(PS2'n, PS3'n), T(PSl'n, PS3'n)]
[0092] and V = T (PS4'n, PS5'n).
[0093] It should be noted that the parameter U is derived from the transposition of the logical combination constituted by the logical operator "<+ 2" referenced 301 in [Fig. 3] (this logical combination being itself detailed in [Fig. 7]). In other words, the transposition is such that the logical operator ">= 2" providing the output value "1" if at least two input logical values have the value "1", applied to three logical values denoted A, B and C and provided by three given sensors, is replaced by the following mathematical function: "MAX [T(A',B'), T(B',C'), T(A',C')]", with A', B' and C' being the distance values measured by the three given sensors.
[0094] The parameter V is a transposition of the logical operator "OR" referenced 302 in [Fig.3]. The MAX function in the notation MAX(U,V) is a transposition of the logical operator "AND" referenced 303 in [Fig.3].
[0095] In the case of a front or rear cargo door (see [Fig.4] for the logical combination (of logical values) which is used to control the closed state of the door), the DDI indicator is calculated as follows:
[0096] DDI = MAX [T(CS2'n, CS3'n), T(CS2'n, MAX(CSl'n,CS4'n)), T(CS3'n, MAX(CSl'n, CS4'n))]
[0097] with CS1'n to CS4'n the normalized and clipped distance values obtained after normalization and clipping of the distance values CS1' to CS4' (distance values CS1' to CS4' from which the logical values CS1 to CS4 represented on [Fig.4] are obtained).
[0098] In the case of a bulk cargo door in the hold (see [Fig. 5] for the logical combination (of logical values) which is used to control the closed state of the door), the DDI indicator is calculated as follows:
[0099] DDI = MAX [T(BSl'n, BS2'n), T(BS2'n, BS3'n), T(BSl'n, BS3'n)]
[0100] with BS1'n to BS3'n the normalized and clipped distance values obtained after normalization and clipping of the distance values BS1' to BS3' (distance values BS1' to BS3' from which the logical values BS1 to BS3 represented on [Fig.5] are obtained).
[0101] In the case of an avionics compartment door (see [Fig.6] for the logical combination (of logical values) which is used to control the closed state of the door), the DDI indicator is calculated as follows:
[0102] DDI = MAX [T(ASl'n, AS2'n), T(AS2'n, AS3'n), T(ASl'n, AS3'n)]
[0103] with AS1'n to AS3'n the normalized and clipped distance values obtained after normalization and clipping of the distance values AS1' to AS3' (distance values AS1' to AS3' from which the logical values AS1 to AS3 represented on [Fig.6] are obtained).
[0104] In an example embodiment, K = 90 is taken in the definition of the function T. This allows, when RI = 6 and R2 = 1.2 are also taken for normalization and clipping, for a DDI indicator that varies within the range [0, 99[, as long as the most degraded pair of proximity sensors (among the pairs appearing as attributes of the function T in the mathematical expression of the DDI indicator; expression given above) does not include two proximity sensors for each of which the measured distance is greater than G_MAX. In other words, the case DDI > 99, which corresponds to a situation where immediate repair is required rather than preventive maintenance, is not considered.
[0105] It should be noted that it is the value of T(A',B') calculated for the most degraded pair of proximity sensors (in the sense defined above), which will give the value of the DDL indicator. Thus, in the particular implementation where T(A',B') = 90.AVERAGE(A',B'), we can distinguish the following situations (naming xN and yN the normalized and clipped distance values according to the definition given above, with RI = 6 and R2 = 1.2): for xN and yN G [0, 1[, we have: DDI G [0, 90[ for xN = yN = 1, we have: DDI = 90 for xN > 1 and yN G [0.8, 1[, we have: DDI G [90, 99[ for xN > 1 and yN = 1, we have: DDI = 99
[0106] We return to the description of [Fig.8].
[0107] In a step 804, the system 101 detects whether a first alert triggering condition, based on the value of the DDI indicator, is met, and if so proceeds to step 805 otherwise proceeds to step 806. In the context of the particular implementation mentioned above (DDI indicator evolving in the range [0, 99[), the first alert triggering condition is for example: the value of the DDI indicator is equal to a first predetermined value VI (for example Vl=99) during a first time window (for example one day).
[0108] In step 805, the 101 system triggers a first alert indicating a first level of severity (“red alert”).
[0109] In step 806, the system 101 detects whether a second alert triggering condition, based on the value of the DDI indicator, is met, and if so proceeds to step 807 otherwise returns to step 801. In the context of the particular implementation mentioned above (DDI indicator evolving in the range [0, 99[), the second alert triggering condition is for example: the value of the DDI indicator is within a range of values [V2, VI[ during a second time window (for example one week), with V2 a second predetermined value less than the first value VI (for example V2=90).
[0110] In step 807, the 101 system triggers a second alert indicating a second level of severity (“orange alert”) lower than the first level of severity.
[0111] Thus, it is possible to trigger different types of alerts (two in the embodiment presented above, but in variations this can be more than two) depending on the value of the DDI indicator and therefore the level of severity (risk level). Each type of alert can be associated with preventive maintenance operations that are adapted to the risk level of the alert in question.
Claims
Demands
1. A method for monitoring the performance of a door closure control system (102) of an aircraft (100), the door being equipped with a plurality of proximity sensors measuring distance values from which logic values are obtained used to control the door closure state according to a logical combination of the logic values with logic operators, the method being implemented by a performance monitoring system of the door closure control system (101) in the form of electronic circuitry, the method comprising: - obtaining (801) the distance values measured by the plurality of proximity sensors;- calculate (803) a value of a performance indicator of the door closing control system, based on a combination of mathematical functions that uses distance values as input values and is a transposition of the logic combination in which each type of logic operator of the logic combination is replaced by a particular mathematical function; and - trigger (805, 807) an alert if a trigger condition (804, 806), based on the value of the performance indicator of the door closing control system, is met.
2. A monitoring method according to claim 1, wherein the transposition of the logic combination is such that: - the AND logic operator, applied to two logic values denoted A and B and provided by two given sensors, is replaced by the mathematical function MAX(A',B'), with A' and B' being distance values measured by the two given sensors; and - the OR logic operator, applied to two logic values denoted A and B and provided by two given sensors, is replaced by a mathematical function T(A',B') with A' and B' being distance values measured by the two given sensors, belonging to the group comprising: - T(A',B') = K.AVERAGE(A',B'), with K >= 1; and - T(A',B') = K.MIN(A',B'), with K >= 1.
3. A monitoring method according to claim 2, wherein the transposition of the logic combination is such that a logic operator '>= 2' providing the output value '1' if at least two logic input values have the value '1', applied to three logic values denoted A, B and C and provided by three given sensors, is replaced by the following mathematical function: 'MAX [T(A',B'), T(B',C'), T(A',C')]', with A', B' and C' being distance values measured by the three given sensors.
4. A monitoring method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising normalization and clipping (802) of distance values to obtain normalized and clipped distance values, and wherein the calculation (803) of a value of the performance indicator of the door closing control system is carried out with the normalized and clipped distance values.
5. A monitoring method according to claim 4 wherein the normalization and clipping (802) of the distance values comprises: - a value assignment such that if a distance value, denoted "gap": * is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value RI, the normalized and clipped distance value, denoted "norm_gap", is written: norm_gap = gap; * is less than the first reference value RI, the normalized and clipped distance value, denoted "norm_gap", is written: norm_gap = gap / G_MAX, with G_MAX a maximum value of a range of predetermined distance values for the proximity sensor that provided the distance value "gap"; - if after assignment the normalized and clipped distance value "norm_gap" is greater than 1 and less than the first predetermined value RI, the normalized and clipped distance value "norm_gap" is modified to take a second predetermined value R2 such that: 1 < R2 < RI.
6. A monitoring method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the alert belongs to the group comprising: - a first alert (805), indicating a first level of severity, if the value of the performance indicator of the door closure control system is equal to a first predetermined value V1 during a first time window; and - a second alert (807), indicating a second level of severity lower than the first level of severity, if the value of the performance indicator of the door closing control system is within a range of values [V2, Vl[ during a second time window, with V2 a second predetermined value lower than the first value VI.
7. Product computer program, comprising instructions causing a processor (201) to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when said instructions are executed by the processor.
8. Storage medium (203), storing a computer program comprising instructions causing a processor (201) to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when said instructions are read and executed by the processor.
9. A monitoring system (101) for the performance of a door closure control system (102) of an aircraft (100), the door being equipped with a plurality of proximity sensors measuring distance values from which logic values are obtained used to control the closing state of the door according to a logical combination of the logic values with logic operators, the performance monitoring system of the door closure control system (101) comprising electronic circuitry configured to implement: - obtain (801) the distance values measured by the plurality of proximity sensors;- calculate (803) a value of a performance indicator of the door closing control system, based on a combination of mathematical functions that uses distance values as input values and is a transposition of the logic combination in which each type of logic operator of the logic combination is replaced by a particular mathematical function; and - trigger (804, 806) an alert if a trigger condition (803, 805), based on the value of the performance indicator of the door closing control system, is met.
10. Aircraft (100) comprising at least one door and the monitoring system (101) of a performance of a door closure control system (102) according to claim 9.