Coordinated Control Unit Testing With Parallel Setup Instructions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing control units in complex systems, such as aircraft cockpits, is time-consuming due to the need for numerous manual setting operations to identify and configure control elements, which can be inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A test system comprising a management server that provides predefined test instructions, a monitoring system that converts these instructions into operating instructions using assignment logic, and output units that receive and execute these instructions in a temporally and logically coordinated manner, allowing multiple engineers or robots to set test configurations efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual setting operations are used to configure control elements, then engineers can independently identify and set configurations, but the testing process becomes very time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the testing process into multiple parallel operations by distributing different control element configurations to multiple engineers working simultaneously. The control unit is segmented into multiple functional areas, each assigned to different engineers who receive coordinated setting instructions, thereby reducing overall testing time while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a monitoring system as an intermediary that coordinates setting operations between multiple engineers and the control unit. This monitoring system manages the complexity of coordinated operations, allowing engineers to work independently on different configurations while ensuring proper sequencing and coordination, thus reducing testing time without sacrificing ease of operation
2Productivity
If multiple engineers work independently on setting configurations, then more control elements can be tested simultaneously, but coordination between engineers becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system serves as an intermediary that manages coordination between multiple engineers and the control unit. It receives setting instructions, determines appropriate sequences, and distributes coordinated commands to engineers, enabling parallel productivity while keeping coordination complexity centralized and manageable rather than distributed and chaotic
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the control unit's configuration requirements before distributing tasks to engineers. The monitoring system pre-determines the optimal sequence and grouping of setting operations, preparing coordination plans in advance that enable parallel execution without complex real-time coordination, thus improving productivity while controlling system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A test system for testing a control unit of a system includes a management server which is configured to provide predefined test instructions, a monitoring system, and a number of output units. The monitoring system is configured to convert test instructions provided by the management server into operating instructions for setting a test configuration on a control unit of a system using predefined assignment logic. The monitoring system is also configured to divide operating instructions for setting the test configuration into partial instructions for setting a partial configuration on the control unit and to temporally and/or logically classify the partial instructions. Respective output units of the number of output units are configured to output the partial instructions transmitted by the monitoring system.