Aircraft Diagnosis Mirror Model for Dynamic Fault Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current maintenance systems for aircraft systems are inadequate in managing changes and large amounts of information, requiring regular updates and using inefficient empirical correlation rules, which hinders effective fault diagnosis and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a dynamic mirror model updated with system modifications, incorporating temporal logic, causal relations, and binary decision diagrams to process and correlate information for efficient fault location and maintenance operations, managing chronology, causality, and probability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If empirical correlation rules are used to manage monitoring information, then the system can process information with simple rules, but the system becomes inadequate and non-optimized when facing large amounts of relevant information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of processing rulesVSAvoidinadequacy in managing large amounts of information

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a mirror model that copies the actual system structure, components, and relationships. This mirror model serves as a virtual representation that can be manipulated and analyzed without affecting the real system, enabling complex information processing while maintaining simplicity in the actual maintenance device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The mirror model acts as an intermediary between the complex monitoring information and the diagnosis engine. It transforms raw monitoring data into structured representations that can be efficiently processed, bridging the gap between information volume and processing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If maintenance systems are configured on the basis of a model established during development phase, then the system can provide structured diagnosis, but it requires regular updating to take into account modifications of configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructured diagnosis capabilityVSAvoidability to accommodate system modifications

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mirror model is dynamically updated to reflect current system configurations. Unlike static models established during development, this mirror model adapts automatically to system changes, maintaining accuracy without requiring manual reconfiguration or updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically updates its own mirror model based on monitoring information and system changes. This self-updating capability eliminates the need for manual model maintenance while ensuring the diagnosis system remains adapted to current configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If a mirror model is used to represent current system state, then the system can dynamically account for changes, but it requires sophisticated modeling and processing mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic adaptation to system changesVSAvoidcomplexity of modeling mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating complex abstract models, the patent uses a mirror model that directly copies the system structure. This copying approach simplifies the modeling process while maintaining the ability to represent complex system relationships and changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Measurement precision

If temporal logic and causal relations are implemented for fault diagnosis, then the system can provide accurate fault identification, but processing time and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of fault identificationVSAvoidprocessing time for diagnosis

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mirror model pre-structures system relationships and potential failure modes before faults occur. By having the causal relationships and temporal sequences pre-established in the mirror model, the diagnosis engine can quickly match observed failures against pre-analyzed scenarios, reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8457811B2Device for system diagnosis

Publication Date: 2013.06.04 THALES SA

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for system diagnosis of an aircraft. The device includes: means for the monitoring of equipment of the system, the means for emitting messages of observations on the basis of effects produced by equipment; means for the determination of a set of observations on the basis of the messages of observations arising from the monitoring of a log of the messages of observations and of a model representing a current state of the system; means for the determination of indictments on the basis of observations of the set of observations and of a behavioral model of the system, the indictments being logical relations between operating modes of equipment having produced effects; and means for the determination of maintenance operations on the basis of the indictments.