With the development of science and technology and the transformation of military strategic thinking, UAVs have been widely used in military, civilian and other fields, such as aerial surveying, aerial photography, reconnaissance, forest fire prevention, etc.
The flight control system is a key system to ensure the flight safety of the UAV and complete the scheduled tasks. UAV control instructions for various airborne equipment are issued by the flight control software, once the software has a problem, the consequences are unimaginable, and software testing is a necessary means to ensure the quality of the software, so the UAV flight control software must be fully and systematically tested.
1. What is a flight control system?
As one of the most complex and critical systems in the aircraft, the flight control system (hereinafter referred to as the "flight control system") plays the role of ensuring the maneuverability and stability of the aircraft, improving the ability to complete the mission and flight quality, enhancing flight safety and reducing the burden on the pilot, and is the brain of the entire aircraft. The flight control system testing technology involves the test in the process of flight control system product design, the test in the test process, the test in the production process, the test in the flight process and the test in the ground maintenance support process, which is a basic way and method to obtain qualitative or quantitative information of the flight control system product.
2. ETest_FlyCtrl of flight control system test equipment
1. Product introduction
UAV flight control system test equipment is mainly used in the ground detection stage of UAV flight control system, with UAV flight control system power supply, flight control command sending and status check, data link channel inspection, rudder inspection, navigation system inspection and other functions, through automated inspection and testing, diagnosis and positioning of various faults in the UAV flight control system, for UAV pre-flight, post-flight, long-term storage and other conditions, to provide detection means, so as to ensure the integrity of the UAV technical status.
2. Its features are crucial:
- "UAV flight control system power supply": to ensure that the flight control system can obtain stable power support, which is the basis for the normal operation of the entire system.
- "Flight Control Command Transmission and Status Check": It can send commands and monitor the response and status of these commands of the flight control system at the same time to verify the accuracy and reliability of its command execution.
- "Data link channel check": ensure the smooth and stable data transmission channel, and ensure that the information exchange between the ground and the UAV is correct.
- "Servo inspection": The servo is essential for the control of the drone, and checking it can ensure accurate control of the flight attitude.
- "Navigation System Check": Ensures the accuracy and effectiveness of the navigation system, enabling the drone to fly exactly according to the predetermined route.
3. Significant advantages
By automating inspection testing, it offers a number of advantages:
- It can quickly and accurately diagnose and locate various faults that may occur in the UAV flight control system.
- Before the drone flies, a comprehensive inspection can detect potential problems in advance and improve flight safety.
- After the flight, an inspection can help determine if there has been an impact on the system during the flight.
- In the case of long-term storage, it ensures that the system is in good condition when it is re-activated.
4. Technical parameters
Integrated portable box design, easy to carry;
- CPU: i7 quad-core 2.8GHz, memory 16GB, SSD: 512GB, 2 USB ports, 1 network port;
- RS-422/485串口8路，波特率：50bps-921.6kbps；
- S.BUS module 1 channel, baud rate 100kbps;
- 2 CAN buses, high transmission rate up to 1 Mbp;
- AD通道8路，输入范围：0~5 V， 0~10 V，±2.5 V，±5 V， ±10 V，软件程控可配
- 8 digital inputs, 8 digital outputs, 8 programmable clock sources;
- 8 multi-function counters, supporting edge counting, frequency measurement, cycle measurement, half-cycle measurement, pulse measurement, pulse width measurement, bilateral edge interval measurement, position measurement, etc.;
- Provide 1 adjustable DC power supply, voltage range 18-36V;
- Provide 1 load resistor, resistance range 0.01~1.5KΩ, accuracy ±1%, automatic measurement of load current;
- It has a self-test function, which can automatically detect the integrity of each component of the test equipment and give the fault location point;
- It can provide DC regulated power supply for the UAV flight control system, and can automatically detect the current output of the 24VDC power supply of the UAV flight control computer;
- It can automatically complete the automatic detection of data link, main flight control, standby flight control, Beidou navigation, integrated navigation, CAN bus, servo S.BUS interface, and clock output;
- It can automatically display the parameters of the flight controller, including bus voltage, 24V voltage, 5V voltage, 3.3V voltage, temperature, air pressure, etc.;
- It can control the engine start, fire extinguishing, etc., and display the engine speed value in real time.
3. Core software ETest
1. Introduction to ETest
ETest is a domestic software integrated development environment (IDE) with strong data acquisition, instrument control and automated test application development capabilities. Compared with foreign products such as LabVIEW and dSPACE, ETest provides a more user-friendly visual programming environment and examples, with high development efficiency and low threshold, so that even users with limited programming experience can easily and quickly develop, test and deploy applications.
ETest, as the first domestic independent controllable semi-physical simulation test and development platform launched by Kaiyun in the industry, has effectively broken the long-term monopoly of imported software LabVIEW, dSPACE and other products in this field in China. The test system developed and deployed based on ETest can serve the forward design process based on MBSE, and realize functions such as automated testing, hardware-in-the-loop simulation, and system integration verification.
ETest has the characteristics of wide application range, strong real-time, high development efficiency, simple use, easy expansion, domestic independent security and controllability, supports the deployment scheme of domestic CPU + domestic operating system, and is compatible with Windows, linux, Mac, VxWorks and other operating systems. It can be widely used in the research and development of test tooling, test instruments and other equipment in aerospace, weapons and equipment, industrial control, automotive electronics, instrumentation and other industries.
2. ETest usage process
ETest supports application modes such as rapid testing, automated testing, test software development, and real-time simulation.
The development and testing of software based on ETest is divided into the following steps: environment configuration, program development (graphical program development, script development), UI design, program packaging and execution.
▲Test design (communication interface protocol configuration)
▲Test Design (Test Script Editing)
▲Test Design (Flowchart Test Script)
▲Test Design (Statechart Test Script)
▲Test Design (Visual Interface Design)
The UAV flight control system test equipment ETest_FlyCtrl provides a key detection means and guarantee to ensure the technical integrity of the UAV in different scenarios, which is of irreplaceable significance for the safe and stable operation of the UAV. For example, in some important UAV application scenarios, such as aerial photography, logistics and distribution, agricultural plant protection and other fields, ETest_FlyCtrl can effectively avoid flight accidents and mission failures caused by flight control system failures, and ensure the efficiency and reliability of UAV operations.