Aircraft Bus Node Self-Configuration via Identity Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft flight control systems face challenges in efficiently configuring propulsion units and other devices within distributed systems, leading to increased maintenance time, weight, and cost due to the need for pre-programming, external configuration devices, or complex connector setups.
Innovation Solution
A distributed system utilizing a redundant electronic or optoelectronic bus system, where device bus nodes automatically configure themselves based on bus identity information and pre-defined allocation data, eliminating the need for physical configuration pins or external devices, and allowing units to determine their location and function post-installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If pre-programming or external configuration devices are used to configure bus nodes, then configuration accuracy is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bus node automatically determines its own configuration by evaluating bus identity information from received messages and matching it with pre-defined allocation data stored in its memory. This self-configuration process eliminates the need for external configuration devices or manual pre-programming, allowing the node to autonomously identify its location and function within the distributed system.
2Manufacturing precision
If pre-programming or external configuration devices are used to configure bus nodes, then configuration accuracy is improved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bus allocation data is pre-defined and stored in the bus node's memory during manufacturing, but the actual configuration determination is deferred until the node is installed in the aircraft. This allows the node to be configured at the last moment based on its actual installation location, eliminating the need for time-consuming pre-programming of each node's specific configuration before assembly.
3Reliability
If physical configuration pins or external devices are used, then configuration reliability is improved, but weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates physical configuration pins and external configuration devices from the bus node structure. Instead, it uses software-based configuration determination that leverages the existing bus communication infrastructure and memory storage capabilities already present in the node, thereby reducing weight and size while maintaining configuration reliability.
4Reliability
If complex connector setups are used for configuration, then configuration reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bus node uses universal communication components (bus interface and memory) that serve multiple functions: normal system communication and configuration determination. This eliminates the need for separate, specialized configuration connectors or pins, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining reliable configuration capabilities through the existing communication infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A device bus node associated with an aircraft device has a plurality of communication ports for connecting with a respective bus of an electronic or optoelectronic bus system of a distributed system of an aircraft. The device bus node is configured to receive bus messages from at least one controller bus node of a controller sub-system of the distributed system and perform a self-configuration procedure after that each of its communication ports was connected with a respective different one of the busses of the electronic or optoelectronic bus system, for being fully operational in the distributed system, wherein the self-configuration procedure determines, based on bus messages received at its communication ports, at least part of individual configuration data being associated to the device bus node as part of the distributed system and being needed by the device bus node to enable a processing of a respectively received bus message.