JPH09226694A - Flight data recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] Recorded data by regular sampling of flight data recorder of aircraft and event information for detecting short-term sudden change are utilized for maintenance of aircraft and engine, so that it can be easily collected over several flights. To do so. SOLUTION: A memory card writing unit is added to a recorder control unit 200 which automatically records detection information from a body sensor 1 attached to a key portion of the body in a memory 9 in a special container 8 by performing a predetermined signal conversion. 50 is provided to insert an 8 MB memory card 100 from the outside to record the same data and event information as the data recorded in the memory 9 during the flight, and to eject the memory card 100 after several flights. .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is designed to automatically record various kinds of data relating to the state of a body or engine in flight when it is mounted on an aircraft or the like, and when an accident such as a crash occurs,
The present invention relates to a flight data recorder for obtaining data for investigating the cause.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An aircraft is equipped with a voice recorder (voice recorder) for recording the voice of a pilot and an automatic recording device for flight instrument information and body condition called flight data recorder (flight data recorder). The cause of the accident is elucidated by analyzing the airframe information recorded when the accident occurred. The flight data recorder is configured to record and record information obtained by various sensors attached to various parts of the aircraft in a storage medium. This storage medium (memory) is stored in a special encloser (container) that can retain the recorded contents even under severe environments such as vibration, shock, and high temperature in the event of an accident.

[0003] In recent years, studies have been conducted to make use of information on aircraft departure / arrival / arrival and flight body information recorded in a flight data recorder for maintenance of aircraft and on-board equipment, and some have reached the stage of practical application. Accumulation of various information such as fatigue of the aircraft obtained by the aircraft sensor for a long period of time, systematic processing, accumulation of past accidents, etc. are extremely useful for maintenance and maintenance of the aircraft and engine.

[0004] In order to utilize the data recorded in the flight data recorder for maintenance of the aircraft and engine, the recorded data is read out and stored every 2-8 hours for small aircraft and 3-25 hours for large aircraft after each flight. Then, it analyzes the airframe information for a long time and builds a database. By evaluating the condition of the aircraft and engine from this database, and performing preventive diagnosis and maintenance, the safety of the aircraft is further enhanced.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional flight data recorder. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a fuselage sensor, which is attached to each main portion of the fuselage as a dedicated sensor for detecting data such as an aircraft engine state, a steering state, and navigation information. About 100 sensors are installed per machine. Reference numeral 20 denotes a recorder control unit, which converts detection signals from a large number of machine sensors 1 into a predetermined format and performs control for writing to a magnetic tape of the recording unit 7 which is a recording medium or a semiconductor memory. Is. Reference numeral 7 is a recording unit, and a memory 9 such as a magnetic tape or a semiconductor memory is a special encloser 8 (container).
The internal storage medium can be protected even if the aircraft is hit by a strong impact, pressure, or fire due to an explosion, flame, or collision due to an accident. Therefore, the enclosure 8 is made of a special metal case.

Reference numeral 13 in the recorder control section 20 is a sensor interface circuit, which is a circuit for inputting information from various sensors 1 and outputting data sampled at a prescribed sampling frequency for each item. Reference numeral 21 is a control circuit, which is a circuit for performing format conversion of data input from the sensor interface circuit 13 and outputting information to be recorded and accumulated to the recorder drive circuit 6. The recorder drive circuit 6 is a drive circuit that outputs a recording signal and a recording control signal for writing the data input from the control circuit 21 into the memory 9 of the recording unit 7.

In order to obtain the data during the actual flight recorded in the memory 9 of such a flight data recorder, it is necessary to reproduce the stored data from the flight data recorder after the flight is completed (after the aircraft engine is stopped). is there. In this case, since the flight data recorder main body cannot be removed from the machine each time, a portable data reproduction-only machine is carried into the machine for the work. Moreover, since the flight data recorder cannot be operated when the aircraft power supply is stopped, the flight data recorder is operated by pulling the power cable from the outside of the aircraft or using the power source of the portable reproduction-only machine. When pulling in the power cable from outside the machine, the cable becomes long for large machines,
On the other hand, a small aircraft such as a helicopter has a drawback that the space inside the aircraft is small and it is difficult to work. Further, when the power source of the reproduction-only machine is used, the power source (battery) capacity of the reproduction-only machine becomes large, so that there is a drawback that the whole becomes large and heavy.

Another problem is that it takes a long time to reproduce recorded data. For example, in the case of the memory 9 capable of recording and accumulating machine data for 10 hours, a memory having a memory capacity of about 7 MB / 8 bits is used, and this data is reproduced at about 9600 bps by RS-232C which is a simple interface. It takes about one and a half hours, which is not realistic. Therefore, in general, the parallel interface often uses an interface of about 1 Mbps. According to this, reading can be performed in about 1 minute. However, in this case, since a large number of interface connection lines are required, there is a drawback that the main body of the flight data recorder, which is an on-board device, and the device of the dedicated reproducing device become large.

In order to solve these problems, the present inventor can obtain flight record data without the need for a power supply, and can obtain the record data without bringing a dedicated data reproduction machine into the plane. I proposed a flight data recorder that can do this (Japanese Patent Application No. 5-1369).
See No. 78 = Proposition A).

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of this proposal A. The recorder control unit 2 has a mechanism for allowing the memory card 10 to be inserted / removed from the outside, and the detection information in a state in which the memory card 10 is inserted. Is recorded in the memory 9 and at the same time, the memory card writing section 5 for writing the data of the same content in the memory card 10 is provided. In this case, the storage capacity of the memory card 10 is about the same as the memory 9 of the recording unit 7.

The control circuit 4 samples the data from the airframe sensor 1 at regular intervals and converts it into a digital signal with a predetermined accuracy. Items such as sample period and recording information are MIL-STD-2124 "FLIGHT DATA RECORD".
ER FUNCTIONAL STANDARDS FOR ”. Aircraft sensor information is sampled continuously. This means that in accident analysis, it is necessary to continuously observe and analyze the operating status of each device before the accident occurs. The continuous sample data is output from the control circuit 4 to the recorder drive circuit 6 and at the same time, output to the memory card writing unit 5 and sequentially recorded.

As described above, if the flight data recorder of Proposal A is mounted on an aircraft, when the flight is completed, the flight data is recorded in the memory card 10 inserted before the flight. The memory card 10 thus taken out can be taken out of the machine and reproduced at any place where there is a reproduction facility to collect data. Moreover, when the recorded memory card 10 is removed, a new memory card can be inserted to complete the preparation for the next flight.

On the other hand, the flight data recorder is required to be lightweight because it is mounted on an aircraft, and for a small aircraft such as a helicopter, downsizing and weight saving are particularly important. Therefore, there are physical constraints on the recording capacity of the recording medium,
Naturally, there are restrictions on the sampling interval of recorded data for recording the airframe sensor output and the recorded data type. In this case, the sampling period is defined to be about 1 time / second to 4 times / second according to the items of various machine body data. However, when trying to utilize the flight data recorder for airframe maintenance (maintenance), a rapid change (event information) in a short time is not accurately recorded in the conventional sample cycle, and data collection for maintenance becomes insufficient. In particular, there is a problem in that it is not possible to accurately grasp the sensor information of an item that may cause a sudden change, such as a machine body vibration.

Therefore, the present inventor has proposed a flight data recorder which solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and can record continuous data for a long time and also record an event state showing a rapid change in a short time. (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-14089
See No. = Let this be Proposal B).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of this proposal B. An external memory 25 is provided in the recorder control unit 40, and the sensor interface circuit 23 has a prescribed sampling frequency of 5 to 100 set for accident analysis. The high-speed sampling data obtained by sampling the data input from the airframe sensor at the double sampling frequency is output, and the control circuit 24 converts the data of the sampling interval of the specified sampling frequency among the high-speed sampling data into a predetermined format and records it. The data is stored in the memory 9 of the unit 7, and the high-speed sampling data is monitored and data showing a sudden change is stored in the external memory 25. The voice input circuit 26 is provided when it has a voice recorder function.

Data input from a large number of airframe sensors is performed at a prescribed sampling frequency of 5 to 1 depending on each item.
An event occurs when high-speed sampling is performed with a clock of 00 times, data of a specified sampling period is recorded in the memory 9 in the encloser 8, and high-speed sampling data is monitored for each item to detect a rapid change exceeding a predetermined value. External memory 25 newly provided by determining that information has occurred
It is possible to accurately grasp the state of the machine body and to utilize it for maintenance by recording the data on the machine and analyzing them together.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the sampling data of Proposal B, in which the broken line in (A) shows the level change of the airframe sensor, and the mark ○ shows the high-speed sampling point. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of the recording data, and the FDR recording data is the recording unit 7.
This is the low-speed specified sampling data recorded in the memory 9 and is the data continuously recorded for a long time. In addition, portions (a), (b), which show a rapid level change for a short time,
The data at the high-speed sampling point (hatched portion) in (c) is data recorded in the external memory 25 as event information.

The sample period of data to be recorded in the memory 9 housed in the robust encloser 8 of the recording unit 7 and the items of recording and accumulation information are MIL-STD-2124.
It is defined in FLIGHT DATA RECORDER FUNCTIONAL STANDARDS FOR. Airframe sensor information for each item is continuously sampled and recorded sequentially. This is because, in accident analysis, it is necessary to continuously observe and analyze the operating status of each device when an accident occurs. On the other hand, data used for maintenance need not be continuously recorded.For example, in the case of engine speed, data that is important for maintenance includes accumulated engine usage time, the number of times the upper limit has been exceeded, and each rated speed. Cumulative usage time for each (eg, rated 1
Total usage time at 00%, total usage time at rated 90%, etc.). That is, for maintenance, it is not necessary to record the sample values as continuous data as they are, and it is important to record the event-like change of the airframe sensor. Therefore, it is important for accident analysis to record the input information from the airframe sensor at the specified sampling period, and it is important to record only the event information and the cumulative situation for maintenance. The maintenance data can be accumulated without the need for the memory medium.

[0019]

However, the above proposals A and B have the following drawbacks. (1) In the case of the proposal A, the recording time of the normal flight data recorder is obtained from the maximum flight time of the onboard aircraft. For example, in a small aircraft with a maximum flight time of 4 to 5 hours, the flight data recording time is set to about 5 hours, and
About 4 words under the condition of 8 words / 1 second, 12 bits / 1 word
The memory card 10 having a memory capacity of about MB is used. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the memory card 10 after each flight. The conversion of this memory card 10 is
This is the task of maintenance personnel on the ground, not the role of the pilot. Therefore, for example, in the case of a helicopter, if the player does not have an airfield, that is, if he / she lands on a plain, mountain, or coast without a maintenance worker, he / she cannot exchange the memory card. Therefore, valuable flight data will be lost due to the oldest data being overwritten, and maintenance data will be missed, resulting in a serious impact.

(2) In the case of the proposal B, the external memory 25 is added, and when the event information showing a rapid change in a short time is detected, it is recorded in the external memory 25. However, the recorded data can be obtained. However, there is a problem that it takes time to match the reproduction event information with the normal sampling data recorded in the memory 9 over many items.

The object of the present invention is to improve the drawbacks of the above proposals A and B, to eliminate the need to replace the memory card for each flight, and to provide maintenance information in which normal sampling data and event information can be easily matched. It is to provide a flight data recorder made available.

[0022]

The flight data recorder of the present invention converts the detection information from a memory contained in a special container and a large number of airframe sensors attached to important points of the airframe into a predetermined format. In a flight data recorder provided with a recorder control unit for recording in the memory, the recorder control unit converts a detection information from the airframe sensor into data specified for each item and outputs the sensor interface circuit, Data from the sensor interface circuit is sampled at a specified sampling cycle for each item, and specified sampling data is output, and the data is sampled at a high speed in a cycle shorter than the specified sampling cycle to detect event information that changes rapidly in a short time. Control circuit that outputs the Memory and a memory card for storing the event information in a predetermined area, and a specified sampling data output from the control circuit with the memory card inserted and removed. And a memory card writing section for writing event information with the cue timing added to the memory card, and a recorder drive circuit for storing the specified sampling data output from the control circuit in the memory housed in the special container. It is characterized by being done.

[0023]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 200 is a recorder control unit,
30 is a sensor interface circuit, 400 is a control circuit,
Reference numeral 50 is a memory card writing unit, 100 is a memory card, and the others are the same as the proposal (A) of FIG. The memory card 100 is a flash memory of about 8 MB, which has a larger capacity than the conventional one. The memory card 100 has areas for storing both normal sampling data and event information.

The sensor information from the sensor interface circuit 30 is input to the control circuit 400. Control circuit 40
At 0, the input is sampled at a normal specified cycle and a high-speed cycle, and the sampling data a of the normal specified cycle is
It is sent to the memory card writing unit 50 and the recorder drive circuit 6. The level of the high-speed sampling data is monitored, and when the level suddenly changes in a short time, it is sent to the memory card writing unit 50 as event information b.

The memory card writing unit 50 adds information indicating the cueing timing of the event information b to the specified sampling data a, compresses the interval of the event information b that occurs intermittently, and stores it in the memory card 100. It is stored in a predetermined area. By doing so, data can be efficiently recorded in the memory card 100 and data for several flights can be recorded. For helicopters,
Since data for about one week is recorded on one memory card 100 as one flight per day, it is not necessary to replace the memory card 100 for each flight. Further, since cueing information (index) is added to the event information b, it is easy to match with the sampling data a defined during reproduction.

[0026]

By implementing the present invention, both specified sampling data and event data can be stored in a memory card as maintenance data, and the same memory card can be used for multiple flights. . According to this method, it is possible to easily realize it by only adding a small amount to the software of the recorder control unit without causing the hardware to be changed / the price being increased due to the increase in the capacity of the memory card. Is big.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional configuration example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a configuration example of (A) proposed above.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a configuration example of (B) proposed above.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration example of (B) proposed above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Aircraft Sensor 2, 20, 40, 200 Recorder Control Section 3, 13, 23, 30 Sensor Interface Circuit 4, 21, 24, 400 Control Circuit 5, 50 Memory Card Writing Section 6 Recorder Drive Circuit 7 Recording Section 8 Container 9 Memory 10,100 Memory card 25 External memory 26 Voice input circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A memory provided in a special container, and a recorder control unit for converting detection information from a large number of machine sensors attached to important points of the machine into a predetermined format and recording the converted information in the memory. In the flight data recorder, the recorder control unit converts the detection information from the airframe sensor into data specified by item and outputs the data, and a sampling of the data from the sensor interface circuit by item. While outputting the specified sampling data sampled in a cycle, high-speed sampling of the data in a cycle shorter than the specified sampling cycle,
A control circuit that detects and outputs event information that changes abruptly in a short time, a memory card that stores the specified sampling data and the event information in a predetermined area, and a mechanism that allows the memory card to be inserted and removed from the outside. And a memory card writing unit that writes event information with the specified sampling data and the cueing timing output from the control circuit in the state where the memory card is inserted into the memory card, and is output from the control circuit. And a recorder driving circuit for storing specified sampling data in a memory housed in the special container.