METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PLURALITY OF CONTROL STATIONS OF AN AIRCRAFT AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL SYSTEM

Abstract

A method and a system for controlling a plurality of control stations of an aircraft. The control method comprises determining a current position of a portable electronic terminal in relation to the aircraft, identifying a current control station, determining at least one current image of the aircraft representative of the current control station, displaying, on a screen of the portable electronic terminal, the at least one current image, displaying at least one graphic interface component in overlay on the at least one current image, selecting a result relating to an inspection of at least one component on the portable electronic terminal and storing it in a memory, the result corresponding to a validated state or a non-validated state of the at least one inspected component.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of control stations of an aircraft, each control station comprising at least one component to be inspected by an operator, wherein the control method comprises the following steps: determining a current position of a portable electronic terminal in relation to the aircraft, the portable electronic terminal being carried by the operator; identifying, with the portable electronic terminal, a current control station from the plurality of control stations, the identifying step depending on the current position of the portable electronic terminal in relation to the aircraft; determining at least one current image of the aircraft representative of the current control station; displaying, on a screen of the portable electronic terminal, the at least one current image of the aircraft; displaying, on the screen, at least one graphic interface component corresponding to the at least one component to be inspected of the current control station, the at least one graphic interface component being displayed in overlay on the at least one current image; and selecting a result relating to an inspection of the at least one component on the portable electronic terminal and storing the result relating to an inspection of the at least one component in a memory, the result corresponding to a validated state or a non-validated state of the at least one component inspected.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps: determining and displaying, on the screen, at least one instruction corresponding to the at least one component to be inspected of the current control station, another memory storing, for each component, at least one of the at least one instruction; and selecting the at least one instruction, by means of the portable electronic terminal, by the operator.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, for each of the at least one instruction, the control method comprises the following steps: determining a piece of state data representative of a current state of the at least one instruction of the at least one component inspected, the current state being chosen from the group comprising an instruction validated state, an instruction not validated state, an instruction forgotten state and an instruction not carried out state; storing the piece of state data; and displaying the piece of state data on the screen.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control method comprises selecting a virtual reality operating mode, the determination of at least one current image of the aircraft being carried out by selecting the at least one current image from a plurality of stored images of the aircraft.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control method comprises selecting an augmented reality operating mode, the determination of at least one current image of the aircraft being carried out by means of a camera integrated into the portable electronic terminal.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control method comprises acquiring at least one image of the at least one component to be inspected, by means of a camera integrated into the portable electronic terminal, and transmitting the at least one image from the portable electronic terminal to an external server.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control method comprises realigning the at least one graphic interface component in relation to the at least one current image, the realignment being carried out by means of at least two electromagnetic signal transmitters arranged on the aircraft, the at least two transmitters allowing the electromagnetic signals to be transmitted over 360 degrees around the aircraft.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control method comprises carrying out an additional acquisition of images of the at least one component to be inspected, the additional acquisition being carried out by means of a remote camera arranged on another aircraft in flight, the additional acquisition of images allowing the at least one graphic interface component to be realigned in relation to the at least one current image.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, for each of the control stations of the plurality of control stations, the control method comprises the following steps: determining a piece of status data representative of a current status of the at least one control station, the current status being chosen from the group comprising an all validated status corresponding to the validated state of each of the inspected components, a non-validated status corresponding to the non-validated state of at least one of the at least one component inspected, an inspection underway status of the at least one control station and an inspection not carried out status of the at least one control station; storing the piece of status data; and displaying the piece of status data on the screen.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control method comprises displaying, on the screen, a piece of position data representative of the current control station.

11. A system for controlling a plurality of control stations of an aircraft, each control station comprising at least one component to be inspected by an operator, wherein the control system comprises: a portable electronic terminal carried by the operator, the portable electronic terminal comprising a screen and a selection interface; a sensor for determining a current position of the portable electronic terminal in relation to the aircraft; an identification unit for identifying a current control station from the plurality of control stations, the current control station being identified depending on the current position of the portable electronic terminal in relation to the aircraft; a component for determining at least one current image of the aircraft representative of the current control station, the determination component being configured to display the at least one current image of the aircraft on the screen; a storage unit for storing a three-dimensional model of the aircraft, the model comprising at least one graphic interface component corresponding to the at least one component to be inspected of the current control station; and a processing unit configured to display the at least one graphic interface component in overlay on the at least one current image on the screen, and wherein the selection interface allows a result relating to an inspection of the at least one component to be selected, the result corresponding to a validated state or a non-validated state of the at least one component inspected, the result being stored in a memory.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the control system comprises a device for determining and displaying, on the screen, at least one instruction corresponding to the at least one component to be inspected of the current control station, the at least one instruction being stored in another memory, the screen being configured to display the at least one instruction, the selection device of the portable electronic terminal allowing the operator to select the at least one instruction.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the portable electronic terminal comprises the memory, the other memory and the storage unit.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the sensor for determining a current position comprises at least two electromagnetic signal transmitters arranged on the aircraft, the at least two transmitters allowing the electromagnetic signals to be transmitted over 360 degrees around the aircraft.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the sensor for determining a current position comprises a receive antenna picking up the electromagnetic signals, the receive antenna being arranged on the portable electronic terminal, the identification unit being configured to analyze the electromagnetic signals and identify the current control station.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit comprises a realignment unit configured to realign the at least one graphic interface component in relation to the at least one current image.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0108] The disclosure and its advantages appear in greater detail in the context of the following description of embodiments given by way of illustration and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0109] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a control system according to the disclosure;

[0110] FIG. 2 shows a first current image of an aircraft;

[0111] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a first variant of a portable electronic terminal;

[0112] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second variant of a portable electronic terminal;

[0113] FIG. 5 shows a second current image of an aircraft;

[0114] FIG. 6 shows said second current image of an aircraft supplemented with instructions;

[0115] FIG. 7 shows a first screen portion displayed on a portable electronic terminal;

[0116] FIG. 8 shows a second screen portion displayed on a portable electronic terminal;

[0117] FIG. 9 shows a third screen portion displayed on a portable electronic terminal at a first instant of a control method;

[0118] FIG. 10 shows a third screen portion displayed on a portable electronic terminal at a second instant of a control method;

[0119] FIG. 11 shows a third screen portion displayed on a portable electronic terminal at a third instant of a control method; and

[0120] FIG. 12 is a logic diagram showing the steps of a control method according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0121] Elements that are present in more than one of the figures are given the same references in each of them.

[0122] As already indicated, the disclosure relates to a method and a system for controlling a plurality of control stations of an aircraft.

[0123] As shown in FIG. 1, the control system 50 comprises a portable electronic terminal 8, 9 carried or held by an operator such as a pilot of the aircraft or a technician. Moreover, such a portable electronic terminal 8, 9 comprises a screen 10 and a selection interface 51 having, for example, a pointing device, a keyboard or a touch panel superposed on the screen 10.

[0124] According to a first variant as shown in FIG. 3, the portable electronic terminal 8 may thus be formed by a tablet computer.

[0125] According to a second variant as shown in FIG. 4, the portable electronic terminal 9 may also be formed by a smartphone.

[0126] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, an aircraft 1 may have a plurality of control stations 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13 each comprising at least one component 6, 7 to be inspected by an operator.

[0127] The control system 50 comprises a sensor 52 for determining a current position of the portable electronic terminal 8, 9 in relation to the aircraft 1.

[0128] Such a sensor 52 for determining a current position may, for example, comprise at least two electromagnetic signal transmitters 58, 59 positioned on the aircraft 1. Such transmitters 58, 59 therefore allow electromagnetic signals to be transmitted all around the aircraft 1 in order to cover all of the movements of the operator and his or her portable electronic terminal 8, 9.

[0129] Moreover, the sensor 52 may also comprise a receive antenna 60 designed to receive the electromagnetic signals transmitted by the transmitters 58, 59. The receive antenna 60 is then advantageously integrated into or secured to the portable electronic terminal 8, 9.

[0130] Moreover, the control system 50 comprises an identification unit 53 configured to identify a current control station 12, 22 from the plurality of control stations 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13.

[0131] Such an identification unit 53 may thus be connected to or integrated into the portable electronic terminal 8, 9. The identification unit 53 may thus be configured to analyze the electromagnetic signals received by the antenna 60 and identify the current control station 12, 22.

[0132] Moreover, the control system 50 also comprises a component 54 for determining at least one current image 11, 21 of the aircraft 1 representative of the current control station 12, 22. Such a determination component 54 can therefore be used to display the current image or images 11, 21 of the aircraft 1 on the screen 10. The determination component 54 may thus be connected to the portable electronic terminal 8, 9 by wired or wireless means. Alternatively, the determination component 54 may also be integrated into the portable electronic terminal 8, 9.

[0133] Moreover, the control system 50 comprises a storage unit 55 that can be used to store a three-dimensional model of the aircraft 1. Such a model has at least one graphic interface component 13, 23 corresponding to the component 6, 7 to be inspected of the current control station 12, 22. The storage unit 55 may thus be connected to the portable electronic terminal 8, 9 by wired or wireless means. Alternatively, the storage unit 55 may also be integrated into the portable electronic terminal 8, 9.

[0134] Furthermore, the control system 50 comprises a processing unit 56 configured to display the graphic interface component or components 13, 23 in overlay on the current image or images 12, 22 on the screen 10. The processing unit 56 may thus be connected to the portable electronic terminal 8, 9 by wired or wireless means. Alternatively, the processing unit 56 may also be integrated into the portable electronic terminal 8, 9.

[0135] Moreover, the identification unit 53, the component 54 for determining at least one current image and the processing unit 56 may, for example, respectively each comprise at least one computer.

[0136] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a graphic interface component 13 in wireframe form is overlaid on a landing gear of the aircraft 1 contained in the current image 11.

[0137] As shown in FIG. 5, a graphic interface component 23 in rectangular form is overlaid on a door of the aircraft 1 contained in the current image 21.

[0138] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the selection interface 51 of the portable electronic terminal 8, 9 allows the operator to select a result relating to an inspection of the component or components 6, 7.

[0139] Such a result may correspond to an instruction validated state, for example, if the operator slides a finger over a selection region 511 from left to right.

[0140] Alternatively, the result may correspond to an instruction not validated state, for example if the operator slides a finger over the selection region 511 from right to left.

[0141] Once the result has been selected with the selection interface 51, the result is stored in a memory 14 of the control system 50.

[0142] Moreover, the control system 50 may comprise a device for determining and displaying, on the screen 10, at least one instruction 571, 572 corresponding to a component 6, 7 to be inspected of the current control station 12, 22. The determination and display device 57 may thus be connected to the portable electronic terminal 8, 9 by wired or wireless means. Alternatively, the determination and display device 57 may also be integrated into the portable electronic terminal 8, 9.

[0143] As shown in FIG. 6, such an instruction 571, 572 may be displayed on the screen 10 and overlaid on the current image comprising a door of the aircraft 1 corresponding, in this example, to the component 7 to be inspected. The selection device 51 of the portable electronic terminal 8, 9 thus allows the operator to select one of the displayed instructions.

[0144] This or these instructions 571, 572 may be stored in another memory 16. Such another memory may be separate from or alternatively merged with the memory 14. Advantageously, the memory 14, the other memory 16 and the storage unit 55 may be integrated into the portable electronic terminal 8, 9.

[0145] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, the device 57 for determining and displaying at least one instruction 571, 572 may in particular allow all the instructions corresponding to the components 6, 7 to be inspected for a given control station to be classified and listed, for example in a table or column 573.

[0146] Moreover, a current state 151 of the instruction or instructions 571, 572 may be chosen from the group comprising an instruction validated state, an instruction not validated state, an instruction forgotten state and an instruction not carried out state.

[0147] A background or a fill type of each cell of the column 573 then allows the current state 151 of each of the instructions 571, 572 to be visually identified.

[0148] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the screen 10 may also display a piece of position data 121 representative of the current control station 12, 22.

[0149] Such a piece of position data 121 may, for example, comprise a circular dial 122 provided with several points 123 equally spaced in azimuth around an aircraft shown from above or below on the screen 10. One of the points 123 corresponding to the current control station 12, 22 may be displayed, for example, in a different color to that corresponding to the other points 123.

[0150] Moreover, FIGS. 9 to 11 also allow a piece of status data representative of a current status 421 of each control station 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113 to be displayed. Such a current status 421 is chosen from the group comprising an all validated status corresponding to the validated state of the control station 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113, a non-validated status corresponding to the non-validated state of the control station 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113, an inspection underway status of the control station 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113 and an inspection not carried out status of the control station 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113.

[0151] For example, in FIG. 9, all the control stations 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113 have not yet been inspected. Therefore, the type or the color of the lines representative of the different control stations 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113 and surrounding the aircraft, shown from above, are identical. These lines may be colored blue and are represented, for example, by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 9.

[0152] However, in FIG. 10, the current status of the control stations 2, 3, 4, 5 is the all validated status; the color of these lines may, for example, be green and represented by bold solid lines in FIG. 10. The current status of the control station 112 is the inspection underway status; the color of this line may, for example, be orange and represented by a thin solid line in FIG. 10. The control station 112 then corresponds to the current control station 12, 22.

[0153] According to FIG. 11, the current status of the control stations 2, 4, 5 is the all validated status. The current status of the control station 3 is the non-validated status; the color of this station may be red and represented by a dotted line in FIG. 11.

[0154] The current status of the control station 112 is the inspection underway status; the color of this line may, for example, be orange and represented by a thin solid line in FIG. 10. The control station 112 then corresponds to the current control station 12.

[0155] As shown in FIG. 12, the disclosure also relates to a control method 30 that comprises determining 31 a current position of the portable electronic terminal 8, 9 in relation to the aircraft 1, identifying 32, with the portable electronic terminal 8, 9, a current control station 12, 22 from the different control stations 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113 and determining at least one current image 11, 21 of the aircraft 1 representative of the current control station 12, 22.

[0156] Moreover, such a determination 33 of at least one current image 11, 21 may be conditioned by selecting 28 a virtual reality operating mode or selecting 29 an augmented reality operating mode.

[0157] When the virtual reality operating mode is selected 28, at least one current image 11, 21 of the aircraft 1 is determined 33 by selecting the current image 11, 21 from a plurality of stored images of the aircraft 1.

[0158] However, when an augmented reality operating mode is selected 29, at least one current image 11, 21 of the aircraft 1 is determined 33 by means of a camera 17 integrated into the portable electronic terminal 8, 9, acquiring images of the aircraft 1 in real time.

[0159] Moreover, such a control method 30 then comprises displaying 34, on the screen 10 of the portable electronic terminal 8, 9, this or these current images 11, 21 of the aircraft 1, and displaying 35, on the screen 10, at least one graphic interface component 13, 23 corresponding to a component 6, 7 to be inspected of the current control station 12, 22. Such a display operation 34 is carried out by overlaying the graphic interface component or components 13, 23 on a current image 11, 21.

[0160] For example, and as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a graphic interface component 13 may be overlaid on the landing gear forming a component 6 of the aircraft 1. According to another example shown in FIG. 5, a graphic interface component 23 may be overlaid on the door of the aircraft forming another component 7 of the aircraft 1.

[0161] The control method 30 then comprises selecting 46 the result relating to the inspection of the component 6, 7 on the portable electronic terminal 8, 9, and storing it 47 in the memory 14, this result corresponding to a validated state or a non-validated state of the inspected component 6, 7.

[0162] The method 30 may also comprise determining and displaying 36, on the screen 10, at least one instruction 571, 572 corresponding to the component 6, 7 to be inspected of the current control station 12, 22 and selecting 37 the instruction or instructions 571, 572, by means of the portable electronic terminal 8, 9, by the operator.

[0163] Optionally, for each of the instructions 571, 572, the control method 30 may comprise determining 371 a piece of state data representative of the current state 151 of the instructions 571, 572 as shown previously in FIG. 8. The control method may then comprise storing 372 the piece of state data and displaying 373 this piece of state data on the screen 10.

[0164] Advantageously, the control method 30 may also comprising acquiring 38 at least one image of the component 6, 7 to be inspected, by means of a camera 17 integrated into the portable electronic terminal 8, 9, and transmitting 39 the image or images from the portable electronic terminal 8, 9 to an external server 18 shown in FIG. 1.

[0165] Moreover, the control method 30 may comprise realigning 40 the graphic interface component or components 13, 23 in relation to the current image 11, 21. Such a realignment operation 40 may be carried out by means of the two electromagnetic signal transmitters 58, 59 arranged on the aircraft 1.

[0166] According to another variant of the control method 30, such a control method 30 may also comprise carrying out an additional acquisition 41 of images of the component 6, 7 to be inspected. In this case, the control system 50 may comprise another aircraft 24, such as a drone, equipped with a remote camera 20 allowing the additional images of the component 6, 7 to be inspected to be acquired.

[0167] This additional acquisition operation 41 may be carried out by means of the remote camera 20 arranged on the other aircraft 24. Such an additional acquisition 41 of images may, in particular, allow the graphic interface component 13, 23 to be realigned in relation to the current image 11, 21.

[0168] According to one embodiment compatible with the preceding embodiments, for each of the control stations 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113, the control method 30 may comprise determining 42 a piece of status data representative of the current status 421 of the control station 2, 3, 4, 5, 112, 113, storing 43 the piece of status data and displaying 44 the piece of status data on the screen 10.

[0169] As already shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the control method 30 may comprise displaying 45, on the screen 10, a piece of position data 121 representative of said current control station 12, 22.

[0170] Naturally, the present disclosure is subject to numerous variations as regards its implementation. Although several embodiments are described above, it should readily be understood that it is not conceivable to identify exhaustively all the possible embodiments. It is naturally possible to envisage replacing any of the means described by equivalent means without going beyond the ambit of the present disclosure.