Distributed ice protection control system
The present application includes a distributed ice protection system that utilizes a distributed control system with a server/client communication protocol to prevent single point failures, reduce affected system loss when a failure occurs, improve required maintenance turn around time, and provide a tailorable, interactive, integrated, cross platform solution for a variety of aircraft ice protection requirements. The distributed ice protection system includes master servers and control modules that are compatible with a variety of aircraft platforms. The control modules interface with individual anti-ice and de-ice hardware components on the aircraft.
1. An ice protection control system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
a plurality of ice protection elements configured for removing ice and/or preventing the formation of ice on a surface;
a generic control core comprising:
a master server;
a control module; and
a standby server configured to act as redundant server for the master server;
wherein the master server is configured to receive a sensor data and send the sensor data to the control module;
wherein the control module is configured to be programmable with functional software from the master server, the control module being configured to functionally operate the plurality of ice protection elements after being programmed with the functional software from the master server;
wherein the standby server and the master server are each configured to maintain a health status of itself on the other.
2. The ice protection system according to claim 1 , the generic control core further comprising:
a standby control module configured to act as a redundant controller for the control module.
3. The ice protection system according to claim 2 , wherein the control module and the standby control module are each configured to maintain a health status of itself on the master server.
4. The ice protection control system according to claim 1 , wherein the master server is a central interface for the generic control core, such that a software update to the functional software residing on the control module can be made via a ground maintenance interface to the master server.
5. The ice protection control system according to claim 4 , wherein the communications interface is a computer.
6. The ice protection control system according to claim 1 , wherein the master server stores operational data pushed from the control module, the operational data pertaining to the historical operation of the ice protection elements.
7. The ice protection control system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor data includes at least one of:
an outside air temperature; and
a true air speed of the aircraft.
8. The ice protection system according to claim 1 , the generic control core further comprising:
a standby control module configured to assume full functional responsibility of the ice protection elements if the control module fails to broadcast a periodic health status message to the master server.
9. The ice protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the control module is generic so as to be installable on a different aircraft platform, the control module is adaptable to a specific aircraft platform by being programmed with operational software.
10. The ice protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the control module is responsible for reporting a fault of any ice protection elements under control of the control module to the master server.
11. The ice protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the master server is in communication with a multi-functional display such that an occupant of the aircraft can interface with the ice protection system.
12. A method of operating an ice protection control system, the method comprising:
providing a control module in data communication with an ice protection component, the ice protection component being at least one of an anti-ice component and a de-ice component;
providing a server module in data communication with the control module;
providing a standby server configured to act as a redundant server for the server module;
maintaining a health status of the server module on the standby server; and
programming the control module with functional software instructions by loading the software on the control module from the server module.
13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
dictating the functionality of the ice protection component with the control module.
14. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
uploading operational data from the control module to the server module for storage on the server module.
15. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
re-programming the functional software on the control module by updating software on the server module via a ground maintenance interface.
16. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
communicating sensor data to the control module from the server module, the sensor data being evaluated by the control module during functional operation of the ice protection component by the control module.
17. An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage;
a plurality of ice protection elements configured for removing ice and/or preventing the formation of ice on a surface;
a generic control core comprising:
a master server;
a control module; and
a standby control module configured to act as a redundant controller for the control module;
wherein the master server is configured to receive a sensor data and send the sensor data to the control module;
wherein the control module is configured to be programmable with functional software from the master server, the control module being configured to functionally operate the plurality of ice protection elements after being programmed with the functional software from the master server;
wherein the control module and the standby control module are each configured to maintain a health status of itself on the master server.
18. The aircraft according to claim 17 , wherein the control module is generic so as to be installable to any portion of the aircraft, the control module being adaptable to the specific portion of the aircraft by being programmable with operational software relevant to control the ice protection elements in that portion of the aircraft.