Control surface calibration system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802693-B2
Application number	US-201313918079-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2013
Priority date	Jun 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A method and apparatus for calibrating a set of transducers. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus comprises a target device, an imaging device, and a calibrator. The imaging device generates a plurality of images of a target formed by the target device as the target device is rotated relative to the imaging device about a pivot axis formed at an interface between a first structure and a second structure in response to the first structure being rotated about the pivot axis relative to the second structure. The calibrator identifies a plurality of angles of the target about the pivot axis using the plurality of images. The calibrator further identifies calibration information using the plurality of angles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a target device attached to and positioned above a first structure generating a target that is directed towards an imaging device;
an imaging device attached to and positioned above a second structure, the second structure rotatably connected to the first structure by a hinged interface along a pivot axis;
a plurality of images generated by the imaging device as the first structure is rotated relative to the second structure about the pivot axis, each of the plurality of images including a point object formed by the target;
a calibrator, implemented by a computer system connected to the imaging device, that identifies a location difference of the point object in the plurality of images, identifies a plurality of rotation angles of the target relative to the imaging device based on a location difference of the point object in the plurality of images, identifies calibration information using the plurality of rotation angles, and uses the calibration information to calibrate a set of transducers by converting output data into angular data in angular units, the output data generated by the set of transducers configured to measure an amount of rotation of the first structure about the pivot axis when the first structure is rotated about the pivot axis relative to the second structure;
wherein the target device is a light pen or other means for generating a light beam that is attached to the first structure and the target is a beam of light generated by the light pen or the other means for generating the light beam.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibrator correlates the output data generated by the set of transducers with a corresponding one of the plurality of rotation angles.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the calibrator identifies a set of output values of the set of transducers using the output data in which an output value in the set of output values is a measure of the rotation of at least a portion of the first structure about the pivot axis, and wherein the calibrator generates a table that identifies a corresponding set of angle values in the desired angular units for each set of output values of the set of transducers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the calibrator converts the set of output values generated by the set of transducers into the corresponding set of angle values in the desired angular units using an algorithm that takes into account the location difference of the point object in the plurality of images.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the set of transducers is associated with at least one of the first structure, the second structure, and the hinged interface between the first structure and the second structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second structure is a wing of an aircraft and the first structure is a control surface moveably attached to the wing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the beam of light is captured in the plurality of images as a point object and wherein the calibrator identifies a location of the point object in each image in the plurality of images with respect to a reference coordinate system as a target location.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the reference coordinate system is a coordinate system centered on the imaging device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is a camera attached to the second structure and wherein the camera is selected from one of a group consisting of an electro-optical camera, an infrared camera, and an ultraviolet camera.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the target device is removably attached to the first structure and the imaging device is removably attached to the second structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the target device is one of a number of target devices and wherein the imaging device is one of a number of imaging devices in which the number of target devices, the number of imaging devices, and the calibrator form a calibration system.

12. A calibration system comprising:
a number of target devices attached to and positioned above a control surface movably attached by a hinged interface to a wing of an aircraft, each generating a corresponding target that is directed towards a corresponding imaging device;
a number of imaging devices attached to and positioned above the wing of an aircraft;
a plurality of images generated by each of the number of imaging devices as the control surface is rotated relative to the wing about a pivot axis, each of the plurality of images including a point object formed by the corresponding target;
a set of transducers that generates output data as the control surface is rotated about the pivot axis relative to the wing of the aircraft; and
a calibrator, implemented by a computer system connected to the imaging device, that identifies a plurality of angles about the pivot axis for the target based on an average location difference of the point object in the plurality of images and identifies calibration information for rotation of the first structure about the pivot axis using the plurality of rotation angles in which the calibration information is used to convert the output data into angular data in desired angular units in order to calibrate the set of transducers;
wherein the number of target device are light pens or other means for generating a light beam that are attached to and above the control surface and the target is a beam of light generated by one of the light pens or one of the other means for generating the light beam.

13. A method for calibrating a set of transducers, the method comprising:
generating a beam of light by a light pen attached to and positioned above a control surface;
directing the light beam towards a camera attached to and positioned above the wing of the aircraft;
rotating the control surface relative to the wing of the aircraft about a pivot axis formed at a hinged interface between the control surface and the wing of the aircraft;
generating, by the imaging device, a plurality of images as the light pen is rotated relative to the imaging device in response to the control surface being rotated about the pivot axis relative to the wing of the aircraft, wherein the beam of light forms a point object in each of the plurality of images;
identifying, by a computer system connected to the imaging device, a plurality of rotation angles about the pivot axis for the beam of light based on a location difference of the point object in the plurality of images; and
identifying, by the computer system, calibration information for rotation of the control surface about the pivot axis using the plurality of rotation angles and using the calibration information to convert output data into angular data in angular units, the output data generated by the set of transducers configured to measure an amount of rotation of the control surface about the pivot axis when the control surface is rotated about the pivot axis relative to the wing of the aircraft; and
correlating, by the computer system, the output data with a corresponding one of the plurality of rotation angles identified from the plurality of images to calibrate the set of transducers.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
identifying a set of output values of the set of transducers using the output data; and
wherein identifying the calibration information using the plurality of angles comprises:
generating a table that identifies a corresponding set of angle values in the desired angular units for each set of output values of the set of transducers.

15. The method of claim 1

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Yeeles Christopher J

Classifications

• B64C13/00 Primary

  Control systems or transmitting systems for actuating flying-control surfaces, lift-increasing flaps, air brakes, or spoilers · CPC title

• G01C21/04

  by terrestrial means (G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01B21/042 Primary

  Calibration or calibration artifacts (G01B3/30, G01B9/02072 take precedence) · CPC title