This paper presents a novel hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbed for systems level diagnostics and prognostics of an electric propulsion system used in UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle). Referencing the all electric, Edge 540T aircraft used in science and research by NASA Langley Flight Research Center, the HIL testbed includes an identical propulsion system, consisting of motors, speed controllers and batteries. Isolated under a controlled laboratory environment, the propulsion system has been instrumented for advanced diagnostics and prognostics. To produce flight like loading on the system a slave motor is coupled to the motor under test (MUT) and provides variable mechanical resistance, and the capability of introducing nondestructive mechanical wear-like frictional loads on the system. This testbed enables the verification of mathematical models of each component of the propulsion system, the repeatable generation of flight-like loads on the system for fault analysis, test-to-failure scenarios, and the development of advanced system level diagnostics and prognostics methods. The capabilities of the testbed are extended through the integration of a LabVIEW-based client for the Live Virtual Constructive Distributed Environment (LVCDC) Gateway which enables both the publishing of generated data for remotely located observers and prognosers and the synchronization the testbed propulsion system with vehicles in the air. The developed HIL testbed gives researchers easy access to a scientifically relevant portion of the aircraft without the overhead and dangers encountered during actual flight.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    A Novel UAV Electric Propulsion Testbed for Diagnostics and Prognostics


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    2017 IEEE AUTOTESTCON ; 2017 ; Schaumburg, IL, United States


    Publication date :

    2017-09-11


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    A testbed for data fusion for engine diagnostics and prognostics

    Brotherton, T. / Grabill, P. / Wroblewski, D. et al. | IEEE | 2002


    A testbed for data fusion for engine diagnostics and prognostics

    Brotherton, T. / Grabill, P. / Wroblewski, D. et al. | Tema Archive | 2002


    A testbed for data fusion for helicopter diagnostics and prognostics

    Brotherton, T. / Grabill, P. / Friend, R. et al. | IEEE | 2003


    11.0505 A Testbed for Data Fusion for Engine Diagnostics and Prognostics

    Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002


    11.0901 A Testbed for Data Fusion for Helicopter Diagnostics and Prognostics

    Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003