FIELD

This disclosure relates to aircraft systems.

BACKGROUND

Aircraft systems that perform built-in-test (BIT) may use aircraft on-board maintenance systems (OMS). These OMS provide a means to log the BIT results obtained via a physical plug-in serial or digital interface that is part of the aircraft system. OMS data is reviewed after a built-in-test (BIT) is performed and not at the point of interrogation. In some cases, the aircraft may not employ OMS. It must therefore use other means to indicate that the system can be found safe to operate or certain maintenance actions performed. Such systems, e.g., for aircraft supplemental oxygen supplies, may use LED flash codes to communicate the BIT result. The flash codes are not intuitive and limited in scope.

Such conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose but are subject to human interpretation and thus possible error. As such there is still a need in the art for improved aircraft systems. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY

A control system for an aircraft system can include a controller configured to connect to one or more subsystems of the aircraft system, the controller having a built-in-test (BIT) module configured to test the one or more subsystems of the aircraft system and output test data. The control system can include a wireless communication module operatively connected to the controller and configured to receive the output data and to output a wireless signal as a function of the test data.

The wireless communication module can be a near field communication (NFC) transceiver. Any other suitable wireless type of transceiver is contemplated herein, for example. The wireless communication module can be configured to communicate directly with a portable electronic device (PED) of a user, for example.

In certain embodiments, the controller can be configured to encode the test data. The test data can be decoded using a predetermined decoding application on the PED of the user, for example.

In certain embodiments, the one or more subsystems include at least one of a valve driver and sense circuitry, one or more valves, an initiator drive and sense circuitry, an initiator, an input power system, door latch driver and sense circuitry, one or more solenoids, one or more cabin temperature sensor, one or more cabin pressure sensors, one or more manifold pressure sensors, one or more manifold temperature sensors, or one or more pressure switches. Any other suitable subsystems are contemplated herein.

In certain embodiments, the wireless communication module can be configured to output a wireless signal, but not to receive a wireless signal to prevent two way communications for security. Additionally or alternatively, the controller can be configured to output data via the wireless communication module but not to receive data from the wireless communication module to prevent two way communications for security.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, an aircraft supplemental oxygen system can include any suitable embodiment of a control system for an aircraft system as disclosed herein, e.g., as described above. The system can further include one or more valves and/or drive circuitry operatively connected to the controller. The system can further include one or more oxygen tanks operatively connected to the one or more valves.

The system can further include one or more initiators and/or initiator driver circuitry operatively connected to the controller to cause fluid communication between the one or more oxygen tanks and the one or more valves. In certain embodiments, the BIT module can be configured to test at least one of the one or more valves, the valve circuitry, the one or more initiators, and/or the initiator driver circuitry.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a computer implemented method can include performing, using a controller, a built-in-test (BIT) on at least one subsystem of an aircraft system to generate test data specific to the controller, and outputting the test data via a wireless communication module to be received by a portable electronic device (PED) of a user. In certain embodiments, outputting the test data can include outputting a near field communication (NFC) signal with the test data.

In certain embodiments, the method can include encoding the test data before outputting the test data. In certain embodiments, the method may include not receiving wireless data via the wireless communication module or not processing received wireless data from the wireless communication module for security. The method can include any other suitable method(s) and/or portion(s) thereof.

These and other features of the embodiments of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

