Avionics Optical Link Diagnostics for Aerial Refueling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical data transmission systems in aircraft are prone to failures and require frequent maintenance, especially in harsh environments, which is time-consuming and requires skilled technicians, disrupting aircraft service.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating digital diagnostics monitoring optoelectronic interfaces coupled to LRUs and central computers, enabling real-time monitoring of optical link performance and diagnostic data without disconnecting fiber optic connections, allowing for in-flight assessment and comparison of redundant systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ground-based optical path testing is performed, then system reliability is improved through detection of dirty connections, but aircraft downtime increases and skilled technician time is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs optical path testing and performance monitoring before the aircraft needs maintenance or before failures occur. By continuously monitoring optical parameters (transmit power, receive power, temperature, voltage) during flight operations, the system detects degradation trends and schedules maintenance at optimal times, preventing both premature maintenance (wasting downtime) and delayed maintenance (reducing reliability).
Solution Approach 2:
The optical monitoring system is self-monitoring and self-diagnosing, collecting performance data from transceivers and components without requiring external technician intervention. The system automatically tracks optical path health, identifies dirty connections through power level deviations, and generates maintenance alerts, enabling the aircraft to 'self-report' its optical system status and reducing dependence on skilled technicians for routine checks.
2Reliability
If frequent prophylactic maintenance is performed, then system reliability is improved, but aircraft availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors optical transmit power, receive power, temperature, and voltage parameters, providing real-time feedback on optical component health. By analyzing trends in these parameters, the system determines when maintenance is actually needed based on actual degradation rather than fixed schedules, performing maintenance only when performance thresholds are breached or degradation trends indicate imminent failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from time-based maintenance scheduling to parameter-based maintenance scheduling. Instead of maintaining on a fixed schedule, maintenance is triggered by changes in optical parameters (power levels, temperature, voltage) and their rate of change, allowing the system to extend maintenance intervals when parameters remain stable while detecting degradation early enough to schedule maintenance during planned downtime.
3Measurement precision
If detailed component-by-component optical testing is performed, then measurement precision is improved for identifying dirty connections, but testing complexity and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical path is segmented into discrete monitorable sections, with individual monitoring points at key locations (transceivers, optical switches, critical connections). Each segment's performance is independently tracked using distributed temperature sensing and power level monitoring, allowing precise identification of which specific segment or connection is degraded without requiring physical access to or disassembly of every component in the optical path.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for efficient, real-time monitoring and maintenance of optical data transmission systems, reducing downtime and increasing the reliability of optoelectronic data transmission on aircraft by identifying superior performing systems and predicting potential failures.
Implementation Method 1
providing a first camera fiber optic transceiver for converting said first video signals from a first electrical video signal to a first optical video signal
Implementation Method 2
providing a first fiber optic link between said first camera, said first display device and said first computer which carries said first optical video signals and signals representative of said first camera diagnostic data
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a system for notification, during flight and on ground, of the relative quality between two redundant optical data distribution networks on an aircraft, which are used for remote surveillance of refueling activities where there is no need to disconnect a fiber optic connection to make the quality assessment.