Decoupling Maintenance Software from Flight Control Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of maintenance software within the flight control system (FCS) increases complexity and costs due to size and performance impacts, as well as the need for frequent re-certification with minor changes, leading to inefficiencies and high costs for suppliers and OEMs.
Innovation Solution
A platform-specific maintenance software configuration system that uses a maintenance engine embedded in the FCS and an image building engine at a ground system to generate and transmit binary image files (BIFs) for maintenance tests, allowing for authenticated wireless communication and decoupling maintenance software from the FCS, enabling on-demand uploads and reducing certification requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If maintenance software is integrated within the flight control system (FCS), then maintenance functionality is available, but the size and complexity of the FCS software increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the maintenance software from the FCS software by creating a separate maintenance software module that can be independently developed, tested, and updated. This segmentation allows the FCS to maintain its core flight control functions while maintenance capabilities are provided through a distinct, modular component that interfaces with the FCS but does not increase its core complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts maintenance software functionality from the integrated FCS environment and places it in a separate, standalone maintenance software system. This extraction removes the maintenance software burden from the FCS, allowing the FCS to remain lean and focused on flight control while maintenance operations are handled by the separated software module.
2Adaptability or versatility
If maintenance software is integrated within the flight control system (FCS), then maintenance functionality is available, but FCS system performance and throughput are directly impacted
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting maintenance software into a separate module, the patent ensures that maintenance operations execute independently from flight control operations. This segmentation prevents maintenance software processing from interfering with the real-time performance and throughput requirements of the FCS, as each module operates in its own execution context.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction of maintenance software from the FCS removes the performance burden from the flight control system. The separated maintenance software can be optimized for maintenance tasks without compromising the FCS's real-time performance characteristics and throughput capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If maintenance software is a major portion of the FCS software, then comprehensive maintenance capabilities are achieved, but time delay in new FCS software releases increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the software development lifecycle by allowing independent development and certification of maintenance software separate from FCS software. This segmentation enables parallel development streams where maintenance software can be updated, tested, and released independently, eliminating the sequential dependency that causes delays in integrated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting maintenance software from the FCS integration, the patent enables separate release cycles. Maintenance software can be updated and deployed without waiting for the entire FCS software package to be ready, significantly reducing the time delay associated with comprehensive software releases.
4Stability of the object's composition
If maintenance software is integrated within the flight control system (FCS), then unified system operation is maintained, but re-certification costs increase with minor changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the certification scope by establishing clear boundaries between FCS certification and maintenance software certification. This segmentation allows minor changes in maintenance software to be certified independently without triggering full FCS re-certification, thereby reducing certification costs while maintaining stable integration through defined interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction of maintenance software creates a separate certification domain. Changes to maintenance software can be certified in isolation from the FCS, eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming full system re-certification when only maintenance software is modified.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for platform-specific maintenance software configuration are provided. The system providing: a maintenance engine embedded in a flight control system of a platform of a plurality of platforms; and an image building engine at a ground system, configured to process fault data and generate therefrom a binary image file (BIF); and wherein the maintenance engine is configured to: receive and execute the BIF to obtain the fault data pertaining to operation of the platform; establish an authenticated wireless communication link to the image building engine; and transmit the fault data to the image building engine via the authenticated wireless communication link; and the image building engine is configured to: generate the BIF responsive to processing the fault data with maintenance software and a user input; and upload the BIF to a cloud server. The maintenance engine receives the BIF from the cloud via the authenticated wireless communication link.