BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

Embodiments of this disclosure relate generally to embedded electronics, and more specifically to remote sensor data acquisition for critical systems electronics.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,240 to Moorehead et al. discloses a distributed processing system for sensor data acquisition and control; however, Moorehead does not include a multiple controller architecture.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,311,778 to Bronczyk et al. discloses a control transmitter with multiple sensors; however, Bronczyk does not support full time sensor availability, nor multiple sensors on one bus, nor does it support multiple bus controllers.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,222 to Burns et al. discloses a process control network with redundant field devices and buses; however, Burns does not include a multiple controller architecture. Also, Burns requires redundant sensors and data flow is via two-way communication.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a remote sensor data acquisition system for an aircraft is provided. The system includes a plurality of remote sensors co-located onboard the aircraft and adapted to measure one or more aircraft-related parameters. A remote sensor interface is co-located with the plurality of remote sensors. The remote sensor interface includes a communication bus having a plurality of nodes to receive data from the plurality of remote sensors. A plurality of subsystems are each adapted to receive data from the plurality of remote sensors simultaneously and in real time via the remote sensor interface.

In another embodiment, a remote sensor data acquisition method for an aircraft is provided. The method includes providing a remote sensor interface co-located with a plurality of remote sensors onboard the aircraft. The remote sensor interface comprises a communication bus adapted to accommodate a plurality of nodes. The method further includes sensing one or more parameters onboard the aircraft via the plurality of remote sensors and transmitting sensor data from the plurality of remote sensors to a plurality of subsystems independently and in real time via the plurality of nodes.

In yet another embodiment, a remote sensor data acquisition system onboard an aircraft is provided. The system includes a first plurality of sensors co-located in a first location for measuring a plurality of parameters, respectively. A first remote sensor interface is co-located in the first location with the first plurality of sensors, the first remote sensor interface being adapted to provide data from each of the first plurality of sensors independently to a plurality of subsystems in a first time slot. A second plurality of sensors is co-located in a second location, distal from the first location, for measuring a plurality of parameters, respectively. A second remote sensor interface is co-located in the second location with the second plurality of sensors, the second remote sensor interface being adapted to provide data from each of the second plurality of sensors independently to the plurality of subsystems in a second time slot different from the first time slot.

