Avionic Display Testing via Automated Image Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft display systems face challenges in maintaining operator confidence due to temporary distortions, intermittent missing information, and blinking issues, which can lead to inaccurate decisions and increased verification time, and current testing methods rely on human analysts prone to errors over long durations.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize an image acquisition system and computer system to identify changes in display devices by comparing images and determining percentage changes in pixels, automatically flagging images of interest based on predefined thresholds, reducing the need for extensive human monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If graphical user interfaces are used to display flight information, then flexibility and accuracy of information presentation are improved, but operator confidence may be lost due to temporary distortions, intermittent missing information, and blinking issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of information presentationVSAvoidoperator confidence
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors display device output and compares it against expected parameters, providing real-time feedback to detect distortions, missing information, and blinking issues. This automated monitoring ensures that accuracy improvements do not compromise reliability, as anomalies are immediately identified and reported to maintain operator confidence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If manual testing by human analysts is used to monitor display devices, then detailed inspection is possible, but errors increase and productivity decreases over long testing durations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidtesting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human analysts with an automated computer-based testing system that uses image acquisition devices and algorithms to monitor display devices. This substitution eliminates human errors and fatigue while dramatically increasing testing productivity, as the automated system can continuously analyze displays without interruption or degradation in performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The testing system is designed to autonomously perform monitoring, analysis, and detection of display anomalies without requiring human intervention during the testing process. The system self-manages the entire testing workflow, from capturing display images to identifying issues, thereby maximizing productivity while maintaining high detection accuracy through consistent algorithmic analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If automated image comparison is used to identify changes in display devices, then productivity and consistency are improved, but complexity of the testing system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting speedVSAvoidtesting system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated testing system is divided into distinct functional modules: image acquisition, image processing, comparison algorithms, and result analysis. Each module performs a specific function, making the overall complex system manageable through modular design. This segmentation enables high productivity through automated parallel processing while organizing system complexity into manageable, independently testable components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2485140B1Avionic display testing system
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 THE BOEING CO
  • EP2485140B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2485140B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2485140B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and apparatus for testing a number of display devices. Images displayed on the number of display devices are received by a computer system for a platform during a performance of a number of tests at a number of test locations for the platform. A portion of the images from the images are identified as a number of images of interest using a policy.