Airbus A350 Aircraft main landing gear test bed station
THE CHALLENGE
The client, a leading international provider of solutions for aircraft systems and services in the business aviation markets had a need to create an automated jet landing gear test bed for the AIRBUS A-350-1000. The goal was to create a new data acquisition system and the hardware interface that would allow communication with the various devices in order to automate the ATP (automated test procedure) to produce a standardized acceptance test report (for both civil and military standards) that could accompany the device under test through to its final installation stage.
THE SOLUTION
We designed and developed an NI (National Instruments) LabVIEW-based, real time data acquisition system software application to automate the test bed station to measure, calculate, display, save and print test results.
This new design incorporated the interface to the test station devices and communication to the test computer. We installed an NI 16Bit DAQ and a Novotechnik LWX position transducer connected to a MUK signal conditioner as well as several CT Series Turbine flow meters with conditioned outputs and several MPT Series Pressure Transducers which would provide the required measurements.
The automated test application could now record measurements in real time from the test station devices as the landing gear actuator was being exercised (extended and retracted) in the test bed. Using these acquired measurements, we were able to precisely measure, display and document the piston stroke, PQ Curves of the hydraulic pumps, the retract and extend rates and times, snubbing velocity, position, retract and extend break out and extend average running pressure. We also included a system calibration function that could be used to calibrate/validate the entire test station quickly and accurately.
The test operator is now guided through the various test step procedures with an easy-to-use UI. Where through the use of on-screen images, instructions and messages, the automated testing process assures the user had made the required connections and then begins to correctly test and produce a standardized acceptance test report (for both industry and military standards) that will accompany the device under test through to its final installation stage.
During this procedure, the test operator is also prompted to enter additional UUT information such as ATP revision, part number, work order and serial numbers. Once all the elements had been tested and the process was complete, the measured data and a pass-fail result were visually displayed on the screen. The test operator then had the option save and print a copy of the test report which would accompany the device under test through the various production stages.
Finally, we provided the client with the full NI LabVIEW source code for the automated test application, an automated test application installer executable, the technical schematics and the bill of materials for the test station so their in-house engineers could modify, repair or duplicate the test station.
Additionally, this new automated test application runs on the free NI LabVIEW runtime engine, so no additional NI LabVIEW licenses are required for any additional duplicate stations.
This new test station allows our client to test the AIRBUS A-350 main landing gear automatically, whether for production acceptance or rebuilds and repairs. In one footprint in a corner of the production area, this test station can keep up with the growing production quantity. Furthermore, this test station was developed as so additional devices could be easily added to the test station software with minimal software development and effort.
Our clients have reduced their software development and maintenance costs by developing this real-time control and data acquisition system software application to automate the main landing gear test bed station with a single software environment, NI LabVIEW.
Airbus A350 Aircraft main landing gear test bed station
THE CHALLENGE
The client, a leading international provider of solutions for aircraft systems and services in the business aviation markets had a need to create an automated jet landing gear test bed for the AIRBUS A-350-1000. The goal was to create a new data acquisition system and the hardware interface that would allow communication with the various devices in order to automate the ATP (automated test procedure) to produce a standardized acceptance test report (for both civil and military standards) that could accompany the device under test through to its final installation stage.
THE SOLUTION
We designed and developed an NI (National Instruments) LabVIEW-based, real time data acquisition system software application to automate the test bed station to measure, calculate, display, save and print test results.
This new design incorporated the interface to the test station devices and communication to the test computer. We installed an NI 16Bit DAQ and a Novotechnik LWX position transducer connected to a MUK signal conditioner as well as several CT Series Turbine flow meters with conditioned outputs and several MPT Series Pressure Transducers which would provide the required measurements.
The automated test application could now record measurements in real time from the test station devices as the landing gear actuator was being exercised (extended and retracted) in the test bed. Using these acquired measurements, we were able to precisely measure, display and document the piston stroke, PQ Curves of the hydraulic pumps, the retract and extend rates and times, snubbing velocity, position, retract and extend break out and extend average running pressure. We also included a system calibration function that could be used to calibrate/validate the entire test station quickly and accurately.
The test operator is now guided through the various test step procedures with an easy-to-use UI. Where through the use of on-screen images, instructions and messages, the automated testing process assures the user had made the required connections and then begins to correctly test and produce a standardized acceptance test report (for both industry and military standards) that will accompany the device under test through to its final installation stage.
During this procedure, the test operator is also prompted to enter additional UUT information such as ATP revision, part number, work order and serial numbers. Once all the elements had been tested and the process was complete, the measured data and a pass-fail result were visually displayed on the screen. The test operator then had the option save and print a copy of the test report which would accompany the device under test through the various production stages.
Finally, we provided the client with the full NI LabVIEW source code for the automated test application, an automated test application installer executable, the technical schematics and the bill of materials for the test station so their in-house engineers could modify, repair or duplicate the test station.
Additionally, this new automated test application runs on the free NI LabVIEW runtime engine, so no additional NI LabVIEW licenses are required for any additional duplicate stations.
This new test station allows our client to test the AIRBUS A-350 main landing gear automatically, whether for production acceptance or rebuilds and repairs. In one footprint in a corner of the production area, this test station can keep up with the growing production quantity. Furthermore, this test station was developed as so additional devices could be easily added to the test station software with minimal software development and effort.
Our clients have reduced their software development and maintenance costs by developing this real-time control and data acquisition system software application to automate the main landing gear test bed station with a single software environment, NI LabVIEW.
