Configurable Aircraft Data Acquisition System Using State Machine Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing systems for modifying aircraft software are time-consuming and costly due to the need for certification by civilian aviation authorities, making it difficult to accommodate different mission profiles and operators without significant updates.
Innovation Solution
A remotely configurable data acquisition and transmission system using a Finite State Machine (FSM) engine that allows for the loading of new state machine configurations over a network, enabling changes in software behavior without modifying the certified software stored in the aircraft's FAST box, by altering the allocation between transition criteria and state objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aircraft software is preloaded and certified before delivery, then software reliability and airworthiness compliance are ensured, but software adaptability to different mission profiles and operators is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The software is segmented into a certified base system and configurable state machine components. The base software remains certified and unchanged, while state machine configurations can be modified to accommodate different mission profiles and operators, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamic reconfigurability through state machine configurations that can be loaded and executed without modifying the certified software. This allows the software behavior to adapt dynamically to different operational requirements while maintaining the stability of the certified base system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If new software releases are deployed to accommodate different mission profiles, then software adaptability is improved, but deployment time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple state machine configurations are prepared in advance and stored in the system. When a different mission profile is needed, the system can quickly switch to a pre-configured state machine rather than deploying new software releases, significantly reducing deployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating new software releases, the system uses copies of the certified base software with different state machine configurations. This allows rapid adaptation by loading different configuration sets without undergoing the time-consuming software release certification process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If software changes are made to accommodate different operators, then software versatility is improved, but certification complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The configurable elements are extracted as separate state machine configurations from the certified software. This extraction allows the core certified software to remain unchanged, avoiding the need for recertification, while still providing versatility through interchangeable configuration modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates static certified software from dynamic configurable parameters. This dynamic configuration approach allows versatility to be achieved through parameter changes rather than software modifications, thereby avoiding certification complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft data acquisition and/or transmission system comprises a memory having stored therein a first state machine configuration comprising a first allocation between a plurality of transition criteria objects stored in a first area of the memory and a plurality of state objects stored in a second area of the memory separate from the first area. A processor is coupled to the memory and at least one application executable by the processor causes a first data acquisition and/or transmission behavior in the aircraft by running the first state machine configuration, receives a second state machine configuration comprising a second allocation between the plurality of transition criteria objects and the plurality of state objects, and causes a second data acquisition and/or transmission behavior in the aircraft by running the second state machine configuration.