System and method for performing a test procedure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11142345-B2
Application number	US-201916546025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2019
Priority date	Jun 22, 2017
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A system and method for performing a test procedure on a system under test are provided. An actuation unit operatively coupled to the system under test is configured to perform at least one operation thereon. A visual recognition unit is configured to capture at least one image of the system under test in real-time. A test unit remotely interfaced with the system under test is configured to perform the test procedure. Using the test unit, the test procedure is retrieved from the memory, at least one control signal is output to the actuation unit for causing the at least one operation to be performed in real-time for testing the system under test in accordance with the one or more test instructions, and the at least one image of the system under test is monitored as the at least one operation is performed for validating the test procedure in real-time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for performing a test procedure on a system under test, the system comprising:
an actuation unit operatively coupled to the system under test and configured to perform at least one operation thereon;
a visual recognition unit configured to capture at least one image of the system under test in real-time; and
a test unit remotely interfaced with the system under test and configured to perform the test procedure thereon, the test unit comprising
a non-transitory memory having stored therein the test procedure comprising one or more test instructions for testing the system under test,
at least one processing unit, and
at least one application stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processing unit for:
retrieving the test procedure from the memory,
outputting at least one control signal to the actuation unit for causing the at least one operation to be performed in real-time for testing the system under test in accordance with the one or more test instructions, and
monitoring the at least one image of the system under test as the at least one operation is performed for validating the test procedure in real-time.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuation unit comprises a robotic arm.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visual recognition unit comprises at least one image acquisition device with graphic recognition capability.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one application is executable by the at least one processing unit for outputting the at least one control signal for causing the at least one operation comprising at least one of simulating a short to ground, disconnecting a connector, injecting a signal, injecting a voltage, injecting a current, simulating a resistance, simulating an impedance, simulating a capacitance, simulating an inductance, measuring a voltage, measuring a current, measuring a resistance, measuring an impedance, measuring a capacitance, measuring an inductance, pressing a switch, turning a knob, and entering data through an input device associated with the system under test to be performed.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system under test is an aircraft system selected from the group consisting of a hydraulics system, an engine system, a fuel system, a navigation system, a landing gear system, a flap control system, an electricity generating system, and a cabin climate control system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the test unit is electrically interfaced with the system under test through at least one cable connecting each electrical connector of the system under test to the test unit.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the visual recognition unit is configured to capture the at least one image of at least one standby aircraft instrument.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one application is executable by the at least one processing unit for:
monitoring the at least one image in real-time and determining at least one test result therefrom;
comparing the at least one test result to at least one test criterion defined by the test procedure;
responsive to determining that the at least one test result satisfies the at least one test criterion, concluding to a pass of the test procedure; and
responsive to determining that the at least one test result does not satisfy the at least one test criterion, concluding to a failure of the test procedure.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a troubleshooting unit connected to the test unit and configured to automatically troubleshoot the system under test responsive to concluding to the failure of the test procedure.

10. A method for performing a test procedure on a system under test, the method comprising:
remotely interfacing a test unit with the system under test; and
using the test unit,
retrieving from memory the test procedure comprising one or more test instructions for testing the system under test,
outputting at least one control signal for causing at least one operation to be performed on the system under test in real-time for testing the system under test in accordance with the one or more test instructions, and
monitoring at least one image of the system under test for validating the test procedure in real-time, the at least one image captured in real-time as the at least one operation is performed.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one control signal is output for causing the at least one operation comprising at least one of simulating a short to ground, disconnecting a connector, injecting a signal, injecting a voltage, injecting a current, simulating a resistance, simulating an impedance, simulating a capacitance, simulating an inductance, measuring a voltage, measuring a current, measuring a resistance, measuring an impedance, measuring a capacitance, measuring an inductance, pressing a switch, turning a knob, and entering data through an input device associated with the system under test to be performed.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein remotely interfacing the test unit with the system under test comprises electrically interfacing the test unit with the system under test through at least one cable connecting each electrical connector of the system under test to the test unit.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising integrating the test unit and at least one avionic test equipment on a workstation electrically interfaced with the system under test.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
monitoring the at least one image in real-time and determining at least one test result therefrom;
comparing the at least one test result to at least one test criterion defined by the test procedure;
responsive to determining that the at least one test result satisfies the at least one test criterion, concluding to a pass of the test procedure; and
responsive to determining that the at least one test result does not satisfy the at least one test criterion, concluding to a failure of the test procedure.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising automatically troubleshooting the system under test responsive to concluding to failure of the test procedure.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code executable by a processor for:
retrieving from memory a test procedure comprising one or more test instructions for testing a system under test,
outputting at least one control signal for causing at least one operation to be performed on the system under test in real-time for testing the system under test in accordance with the one or more test instructions, and
monitoring at least one image of the system under test for validating the test procedure in real-time, the at least one image captured in real-time as the at least one operation is performed.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Giroux Sébastien
• Roche Cédric

Classifications

• B64F5/60 Primary

  Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems · CPC title

• G05D1/0016

  characterised by the operator's input device (input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00) · CPC title

• G07C5/008 Primary

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• G01R31/31924

  Voltage or current aspects, e.g. driver, receiver · CPC title

• G01R31/002

  where the device under test is an electronic circuit · CPC title