Method and a device for controlling at least two subsystems of an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016137289-A1
Application number	US-201514936910-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 10, 2015
Priority date	Nov 14, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of controlling subsystems of an aircraft. During a preparation step, at least one global order is stored in a database, each global order including an eligibility condition, and at least one global order including an activation condition, each global order specifying a command sequence comprising at least two actions to be implemented one after another or in parallel by two different members. During an initialization step, an onboard computer determines whether a global order is selected automatically or by a pilot. During an activation step, an onboard computer determines, where appropriate, whether the selected global order is feasible. During an implementation step, and providing the selected global order is feasible, the onboard computer performs the actions specified by the selected global order.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of controlling subsystems of an aircraft, each subsystem having at least one member for selecting from a list comprising at least: an actuatable device that can change state on request; an actuator connected to at least one actuatable device for controlling the state of the actuatable device; a sensor measuring at least one parameter; an information interface providing at least one item of information to a person; and a control interface enabling at least one other member to be controlled; the method comprising the following steps:
during a preparation step performed on the ground or in flight prior to a command sequence, storing at least one global order in a database, each global order including an eligibility condition specifying at least one condition to be satisfied in order to be able to select the global order, at least one global order including at least one activation condition, each global order specifying a command sequence including at least two actions to be implemented either in sequence or in parallel by two different members; during an initialization step of initializing a command sequence, an onboard computer determines whether a stored global order, referred to as the “selected global order”, has been selected automatically or by a action referred to as “pilot action” performed by a person; if the selected global order includes at least one activation condition, then during an activation step of activating the command sequence, an onboard computer determines the feasibility of the selected global order by verifying that the aircraft can implement the selected global order by determining whether each activation condition of the selected global order is satisfied; and during an implementation step of implementing the command sequence, if the selected global order does not have any activation condition or if each activation condition of the selected global order is satisfied, the onboard computer implements the actions specified by the selected global order.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one global order specifies an eligibility condition indicating that the global order is selectable at any time.

3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein during the initialization step:
the onboard computer displays on an information interface a list of global orders that can be selected at a given instant, referred to as “selectable global orders”, each selectable global order being a global order for which each of the eligibility conditions is satisfied at the given instant; and the onboard computer monitors a control interface to determine the selected global order as the order which is selected from the list of selectable global orders by a pilot operating the control interface.

4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one global order referred to as “autonomous global order includes an eligibility condition specifying that this global order can be selected automatically, and during the initialization step the onboard computer automatically selects an autonomous global order when the eligibility conditions of the autonomous global order are satisfied.

5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein during the implementation step, the onboard computer implements each action by transmitting respective signals to the members of the aircraft.

6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein during the implementation step, the onboard computer performs an action of displaying a description of the action on an information interface so that the pilot carries out the action using a control interface, the onboard computer monitoring the members in order to determine whether the action has been implemented in order to continue the command sequence.

7 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein during the activation step, if the selected global order is not feasible, then the onboard computer operates an information interface in order to inform a pilot.

8 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein during the activation step, if the selected global order is not feasible, the onboard computer determines an alternative order that is feasible and operates an information interface in order to inform a pilot about the alternative order, the onboard computer monitoring a control interface in order to determine whether a pilot has selected to refuse the alternative order or to modify the alternative order or to perform the alternative order, the onboard computer continuing with the current command sequence on the basis of the alternative order in the event of it being confirmed by the pilot.

9 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the onboard computer monitors a control interface in order to determine whether a pilot is seeking to stop a command sequence, and if so, it ends the command sequence, a pilot being capable of operating a control interface in order to stop a command sequence at any moment.

10 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein during a monitoring stage, an onboard computer communicates with a monitoring interface to determine whether a failure is preventing an action being implemented, and if a the failure is detected:
the onboard computer operates an information interface to inform a pilot of the presence of such a failure; the onboard computer monitors at least one control interface to determine whether a pilot is implementing the action or has selected to stop the command sequence; and if the pilot implements the action, the onboard computer continues with the command sequence.

11 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein a stored global order includes adjustable parameters, and during the preparation step, control interfaces are operated by a pilot in order to set the parameters.

12 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein a stored global order includes at least one action to be selected from a list comprising an action for optimizing a mission parameter, an action for reconfiguring, at least in part, an information interface of a cockpit, and an action for controlling an actuatable device.

13 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the database includes a global order for reaching a location, the global order including at least one of the following actions:
an action transmitted to a navigation subsystem requesting it to calculate a path to be followed in order to reach the location, and to display it; an action transmitted to a flight control subsystem requesting it to calculate a reference speed of rotation of a rotor; an action transmitted to a flight control subsystem requesting it to calculate a reference position for an airfoil surface; an action transmitted to an autopilot subsystem requesting it to apply at least one of the speed of rotation and position references by operating at least one of the actuators; and an action transmitted to an information interface in order to inform a pilot when the path being followed is not optimal.

14 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein a global order comprises actions that are transmitted to a plurality of information interfaces requesting them to display:
information from a radar operating in an anti-collision monitoring mode; at least one parameter relating to monitoring the vehicle; a path; and current weather conditions.

15 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein a stored global order requires the use of parameters that vary during a flight, and the onboard computer determines the parameters even if the global order has not yet been selected during the initialization step.

16 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the aircraft i

Assignees

• Airbus Helicopters

Inventors

• Violette Arnaud
• Baudry Jean-Pierre

Classifications

• G01C23/005

  Flight directors (indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32) · CPC title

• G05D1/102 Primary

  specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft · CPC title

• B64C19/00 Primary

  Aircraft control not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G05B23/0216 Primary

  Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration · CPC title

• G05D1/0858

  specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft · CPC title