AIRBORNE INTEGRATED MONITORING SYSTEM

Aircraft, especially the helicopter, are becoming more complicated, more sophisticated and, therefore, more expensive. As this trend continues, monitoring techniques are available to become an integral part of each airframe configuration so that maintenance actions can be taken in a timely fashion, down-time minimized and maintenance costs reduced. Goals such as these are achieved through performance analyses, failure mode assessments and maintenance action predictions. Monitoring techniques are available now and, due to evolving solid-state, digital technology, are becoming less expensive to integrate and install. This paper will address the goals and issues associated with on-board monitoring techniques and suggest approaches for dealing with them. Both input and output signal interface goals will be discussed along with the microprocessor and memory devices necessary to implement a viable monitoring system. The major goal for input and output interfaces is to achieve a workable system that operates completely in the digital domain. Although this is not always practical, the achievement of such a goal will reduce system complexity and aircraft wiring. For memory and recording the goal is to implement cost effective, solid-state, nonvolatile devices that can provide for error free and long lasting storage of data while withstanding the hostile environment. The goal for computer technology is to make maximum use of existing devices but to retain the flexibility necessary to accept new, high capacity devices as they come on the market. The central integrated checkout system being implemented on the V-22 Osprey, tiltrotor aircraft will be used as the example of current technology.