Acceptance Testing System Using HUMS Data Correlation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current acceptance testing methods, particularly black box testing, fail to detect foreign object debris or subcomponents that are close to acceptable limits, and do not provide comprehensive insights into how close a component's responses are to testing limits when observed with multiple parameters.

Innovation Solution

A system that incorporates a data acquisition system and a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) interface to receive sensor inputs, determine condition indicators, and compare them to HUMS data, outputting test results, with the ability to simulate in-flight conditions and store raw data for future analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If black box testing is used to simplify acceptance testing, then testing time and complexity are reduced, but detection accuracy and reliability of test results deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting timeVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The acceptance testing system is segmented into multiple independent testing modules: black box testing module, white box testing module, and parameter correlation analysis module. Each module performs specific functions - black box testing provides quick pass/fail results, white box testing detects internal defects like foreign object debris, and parameter correlation analysis evaluates multiple parameters simultaneously. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both testing efficiency and detection accuracy by combining multiple specialized testing approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If simple pass/fail testing is used to reduce test complexity, then ease of operation is improved, but information completeness and measurement precision deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidinformation completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements multi-level feedback mechanisms. First, black box testing provides immediate pass/fail feedback for quick decision-making. Second, white box testing provides detailed feedback about internal component conditions such as foreign object debris detection. Third, parameter correlation analysis provides feedback on how multiple parameters interact and their proximity to limits. This layered feedback structure maintains operational simplicity while delivering comprehensive information about component health and test results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If individual parameter testing is used to simplify measurement, then measurement precision for single parameters is improved, but overall system reliability deteriorates due to inability to detect combined parameter issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidoverall system reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from one-dimensional single parameter testing to multi-dimensional parameter correlation analysis. While individual parameters are measured with high precision using dedicated sensors and testing equipment, the system additionally analyzes the correlations and interactions between multiple parameters simultaneously. This dimensional expansion allows detection of combined parameter issues that would not be apparent from individual parameter testing alone, such as parameter combinations that collectively indicate potential failures even when each parameter individually appears normal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10593134B2Acceptance testing system
Publication Date: 2020.03.17 SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORP
  • US10593134B2 patent drawing
  • US10593134B2 patent drawing
  • US10593134B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system for acceptance testing includes a data acquisition system operable to receive a plurality of sensor inputs from a component under test. The system also includes a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) interface operable to receive data from a HUMS coupled to the sensor inputs. The system further includes a data processing system operable to determine a plurality of condition indicators based on the sensor inputs acquired by the data acquisition system, receive a plurality of HUMS data from the HUMS interface based on the sensor inputs, compare the condition indicators to the HUMS data, and output a test result based on results of the comparison.