Aircraft Engine Simulator Digital Bus Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development and maintenance of simulators for complex real-time systems, such as aircraft engine environments, are costly due to the need for specific electronic cards to generate analog signals for sensors, which are complex and prone to drift issues.
Innovation Solution
A digital computer-based system that includes a selection module to route inputs either to real sensors or a substitution bus, a real-time simulator to generate substitute digital data, and a control module to prevent simulation during flight, eliminating the need for specific cards by using a digital bus for sensor simulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specific electronic cards are used to generate analog signals for sensors, then sensor simulation capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a digital copy (substitute digital data) to replace the physical sensor signal path. Instead of using complex electronic cards to generate analog signals, the system creates digital representations of sensor data that can be routed to the digital computer inputs, thereby simplifying the hardware while maintaining simulation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the analog electronic signal generation system with a digital data generation system. The real-time simulator generates digital data that substitutes for analog sensor signals, eliminating the need for complex analog electronic cards and their associated maintenance requirements
2Reliability
If specific electronic cards are used to generate analog signals for sensors, then sensor simulation capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses digital copies of sensor data instead of physical analog signal generation hardware. The real-time simulator creates digital representations of sensor outputs that can be fed into the digital computer, eliminating the need for expensive specialized electronic cards
Solution Approach 2:
The real-time simulator serves multiple functions: it can simulate various sensor types (temperature, pressure, speed) using the same digital data generation mechanism, eliminating the need for different specialized electronic cards for each sensor type, thereby reducing manufacturing cost
3Productivity
If the same code is used in both simulation and flight modes, then development efficiency is improved, but safety risk increases due to potential accidental simulation during flight
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the routing configuration based on operational mode. During flight, the selection module ensures inputs are connected to real sensors; during simulation, the same code can route inputs to the substitute bus. The code itself remains identical, but its operational context changes dynamically
Solution Approach 2:
The selection module acts as an intermediary that controls the routing between real sensors and the substitute bus. It provides a safety layer that prevents direct connection to the substitute bus during flight while allowing the same regulation module code to operate in both modes under different routing conditions
4Device complexity
If digital bus is used instead of specific electronic cards, then device complexity is reduced, but signal transmission capability may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter domain from analog signals to digital data. The real-time simulator generates digital data that can represent various sensor types through data multiplexing, allowing a single digital bus to handle multiple sensor simulations that previously required separate analog electronic cards
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed system (SYS1) comprises a digital computer (FAD1), the inputs of which a selection module (MSEL1) directs to a sensor (CAPi) or to a substitute digital bus (BSU1) on which substitute digital data (DSUi) generated by a real-time simulator (SIM) can transit.