Electronic Aircraft Control Unit Kits Using Identical Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of electronic flight control units for aircraft is costly due to the need for specific designs tailored to different types of aircraft, leading to high costs in design, manufacture, certification, and storage.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising identical electronic modules, including avionics platform modules, protection modules, and connection modules, allows for the assembly of control units tailored to specific aircraft specifications by selecting and connecting modules as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic control units are designed specifically for each aircraft type, then the control unit meets the specific specifications, but the design and manufacture costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is divided into separate functional modules: processing modules (with different computational capabilities), protection modules (for environmental protection), and connection modules (for interface adaptation). This segmentation allows each module to be independently designed and manufactured, then assembled into different configurations for various aircraft types, reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining specification adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal module types that can serve multiple aircraft applications. The same processing module designs, protection module designs, and connection module designs can be used across different aircraft types, with the specific configuration adapted through module selection and arrangement rather than complete redesign for each aircraft type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different designs are created for each aircraft type, then the control unit meets the specific specifications, but the design and certification costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the control unit into standardized modules, the design process is divided into module development (done once) and system configuration (done per aircraft type). Certification can then focus on module-level approval rather than complete system re-certification for each aircraft variant, significantly reducing time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The modules are designed and pre-certified in advance as universal components. This preliminary action allows rapid assembly of compliant control units for different aircraft types without repeating the full design and certification process, as the pre-certified modules can be confidently integrated into new configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If specific control units are manufactured for each aircraft type, then the control unit meets the specific specifications, but storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing and storing complete control units for each aircraft type, the system segments the product line into a limited set of universal modules. These modules are manufactured in higher volumes for each module type, reducing per-unit costs and simplifying inventory management, while still enabling customization through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
A small library of universal module designs can serve multiple aircraft types and configurations. This universality dramatically reduces the variety of items that need to be manufactured and stored, as the same module designs can be assembled into different control unit configurations to meet various aircraft specifications.
Data Source
AI summary
A kit for manufacturing electronic aircraft control units having different specifications, the units including electronic modules of different types, including avionics platform modules comprising at least an electronic monitoring circuit and an electronic control circuit that are segregated from each other; first protection modules for protecting the avionics platform modules; first extended connection modules; and second protection modules for protecting the extended connection modules; the modules of each type being identical with one another.