EP2471047A1

EP2471047A1 - Remote measurement system and method for carrying out a test method on a remote object

Info

Publication number: EP2471047A1
Application number: EP10759597A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Holger Speckmann; Clemens Westerkamp
Original assignee: Hochschule Osnabrueck; Airbus Operations GmbH
Current assignee: Hochschule Osnabrueck; Airbus Operations GmbH
Priority date: 2009-08-28
Filing date: 2010-08-25
Publication date: 2012-07-04
Also published as: WO2011023720A1; US20120179414A1; DE102009039256A1; CN102640191A; CA2772373A1; CN102640191B

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote measurement system (2) comprising a test device (4) that is connected to at least one sensor (16) and used to examine an object, a switching unit (6) and a remotely arranged operating unit (10). The operating unit (10) can send control signals for actuating the test device (4) to the switching unit (6). A data processing unit (8) compresses a first measurement data flow originating from the test device (4) and sends a second measurement data flow to the operating unit (10). The data processing unit (8) performs a quantization process, which can be controlled by the control signals on the operating unit (10). An expert located remotely from the object to be tested can gain a direct and qualified impression on the operating unit about the course and results of an inspection or of an examination and can provide direction, for example with respect to proper handling or to changing a recording mode or a recording location. This highly accelerated expert support in the execution of complex examinations saves time and considerably optimizes the transfer of know-how and use of experienced experts.

Description

A telemetry system and method for performing a test procedure on a remote object

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 237,778, filed on August 28, 2009, and German Patent Application No. 10 2009 039 256.4, filed on Aug. 28, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a telemetry system, a method for performing a test method on a remote object and the use of a

Telemetry system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Regular maintenance of larger vehicles, such as airplanes and ships, often involves the use of complex test equipment to study structural integrity. Such complex testing devices could be implemented, for example, as ultrasound and X-ray systems for examining materials which also provide image information to a user in addition to concrete measurement data. The

Operating complex test equipment with a wide variety of connected sensors and interpreting the results requires many years of experience, even if the usual manufacturer training courses have been completed. For special investigations, it is therefore necessary to ask specialized experts for support.

Especially with larger vehicles deployed worldwide, it is rather uncommon that such an expert can always be found on site, whereby a collaboration on different means of communication is required or the expert must travel to the vehicle. The latter variant is both time consuming and costly, so this is not considered an optimal solution. The Although the use of means of communication for interrogating and instructing on-site people is nowadays practically possible from any location, however, in the maintenance of aircraft in particular investigations are carried out which require interaction between a tester and the expert and make it difficult to communicate in this regard.

The consultation of experts can nowadays usually be done by telephone and fax, for example to find a problem. However, the problem in question can only be reproduced inadequately, so that e-mails with attached test results are often used in image or report form. Alternatively, a video-based

Collaboration possible using traditional videoconferencing systems. However, these are typically used stationary at the level of meeting rooms or desks. In these videoconferencing systems, there are often computation units with which several subscribers can work together on an application at different locations (so-called "application sharing") .Thus use is generally stationary and the integration of external test equipment in a test hall on site at one Vehicle is not possible with it.

There are also mobile teleservice systems are known, however, do not have the ability to integrate in addition to a conventional video and audio data transmission and an external test device in a data stream and to allow control of a tester.

Furthermore, there are test devices with which an asynchronous file-based

Data exchange can be realized so that configuration data or Measurement reports for local evaluation can be prepared and sent to a workplace.

Furthermore, all the aforementioned options are designed so that the widest possible bandwidth for transmitting image and audio information is available, so that in particular for data connections with low data bandwidth, a use of teleservice or conference systems is virtually impossible to effectively consult remote experts .

Submit instructions and check measurement data in real time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a telemetry system with which an expert can examine a remote object with any complex tester, the expert should be able to obtain in real time measurement data, the measured data should also be able to include image data.

Another object of the invention is to provide an investigation with the

Be able to perform measuring system, even if only relatively slow

Data connections to the expert can be realized.

As a further object of the invention could be considered to have a control of the tester by the expert to make without the expert must be on site. The object is achieved by a remote measuring system according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments can be taken from the subclaims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the telemetry system has at least one test device, at least one switching unit and at least one operating unit. The testing device and the switching unit are coupled together so that the switching unit is enabled to receive a first measurement data stream of the testing device. Furthermore, the control unit with the

Switching unit coupled and adapted to transmit control signals for driving the tester to the switching unit and a second

Receive measurement data stream from the switching unit. The control unit is not located in the same location as the switching unit, but is coupled via an arbitrary type of data connection with the switching unit and serves to place an expert located in the control unit in the

Include telemetry system.

The switching unit in turn has a data processing unit with which a compression of the first measurement data stream can be performed and the resulting compressed second measurement data stream can be sent to the operating unit. The data processing unit is configured to adapt the second measurement data stream to an available data transmission bandwidth, which could be comparatively low, between the switching unit and the operating unit and to perform a quantization, wherein the

Quantization is controllable by the control signals on the control unit. The quantization means in principle the conversion of data in the context of defined gradations, which can be given approximately in bits. The first measurement data stream may simultaneously contain, for example, numerical measurements of sensors, video data from a sensor, a camera or other optical recording unit, audio data or screen data of the tester for the information of the expert on the control unit.

An important effect is that, for example, video data of the tester can be compressed and quantized so that they can also be transmitted to the operating unit via slower data connections. However, in compression and quantization in particular

It is particularly useful to provide quantization by the user, i. in this case the experts stationed remotely from the object to be controlled. The effects of the adulteration become subjective

However, a different quantization, dependent on the mode of operation and controlled by the expert, can minimize these subjectively perceived distortions. The deployment mode could be differentiated according to the following criteria:

a) The dynamics of the measurement result is in the foreground, for example because a sensor, such as an ultrasonic sensor, the tester is to be performed on a surface of a vehicle. Here is crucial that

Position, angle and orientation of the sensor are adjusted correctly. Optimal here is such a quantization, which is a fast

Refresh rate of the image and a low delay time allows.

b) The sharpness of the measurement result is in the foreground, because about a correctly aligned sensor to be read exactly. It is tolerable that the update rate is low and therefore the delay is large.

In other words, this means that a first measurement data stream with image data, such as ultrasound or X-ray images, and numerical measurement data

Application of the inventive remote measuring system via a slow

Data connection can be sent as a second measurement data stream to a remote expert, the expert can autonomously control this transmission and the quality presented to him.

It is also conceivable in this connection that, in the case of particularly pronounced changes of numerous measurement data and image data, an automatic

Adaptation of the quantization by the data processing unit, whereby the expert can manually intervene in this automated quantization process.

It is also conceivable that the data processing unit is set up to not completely compress image information with a high resolution and to send it to the operating unit, but if necessary controlled by the expert, only considers individual image sections ("regions of interest") and quantizes them accordingly Preferably, the regularly updated image section is then provided with a corresponding marking or approximately remaining parts of the image are shaded.

In an advantageous development of the inventive remote measuring system, the test device has a screen for displaying measured data and image data, wherein the test device is set up to display the screen content first Send measurement data stream from the tester to the exchange unit. This has the advantage that for transmission, for example, the so-called Remote Frame Buffer Protocol (RFP) can be used, in which only image deviations are transmitted starting from an initial image. This screen content could form the first measurement data stream coming from the tester, which is then further compressed to reduce the required connection speed to the operating unit.

In an advantageous development of the remote measuring system according to the invention, the switching unit and the operating unit are connected to one another via an ISDN line. This gives independence from a local one

Data network created, even the encryption is relatively easy.

You can quickly connect across organizational boundaries without the hassle of customizing intra-group network devices. Due to the selected type of dynamic adaptation of the quantization, it is also possible to work with other communication channels of low data rate, for example via mobile radio systems.

In an advantageous development of the system according to the invention, the data processing unit is set up to perform a discrete cosine transformation (DCT) of the first measurement data stream and to compress image data from the first measurement data stream with an image compression method. By applying the discrete cosine transform, a time-discrete signal is transformed from the local to the frequency domain, so that image data is put into a form that can be efficiently compressed. By using a common method of compressing image data, different ones can be used

Compression method are used, which also depending on experience with The inventive telemetry system can be tested and replaced various compression methods to further increase the efficiency of the telemetry system.

In an advantageous development of the remote measuring system according to the invention, in addition to the second measuring data stream, a bidirectional

Communication connection between the control unit and the

Switching unit are manufactured. This is about possible, a

Send communication data stream from the operating unit to the switching unit, whereby an operator on-site at the object to be examined

Instructions from the expert on the control unit can receive and then, for example, sensors of the tester can move, move or adjust. The communication data stream may be of any type and include audio data, video data or text information. As mentioned, that is

Communication data stream preferably set up for a bidirectional transmission, so that not only the expert on the control unit can instruct an operator of the tester by voice, text data or a kind of video telephony, but also that it is possible to show the expert by a camera image from the exchange unit, where, for example, an inserted sensor is currently located on the object to be examined, while at the same time the recorded measurement data and a screen content of the testing device are provided by the second measurement data stream at the operating unit. Thus, this would make it conceivable that the expert could transmit by transmitting a video image to the operator a handle to be performed on the tester or the sensor. Should video data from the control unit to the

Switching unit to be transmitted, it is conceivable that the control unit by control inputs of the expert and / or currently larger second

Messdatenstrom is set up to provide the necessary data bandwidth for the Reduce video transmission. This could also be achieved here by reducing the update rate, ie the images to be transmitted per unit of time, as well as by reducing the image quality.

The erf Fernndungsgemäße telemetry system is therefore able, in addition to the

Transmission of numerical measurement data also about to transfer a screen content to the expert on the control unit, while at the same time

bidirectional communication data stream between the operating unit and the switching unit is present. With a comparatively low data bandwidth, for example when using an ISDN line, the switching unit of the remote measuring system according to the invention can process and mix these data streams to be transmitted particularly advantageous, so that both at the time

Switching unit as well as the control unit sufficient information to be provided.

Furthermore, a method for performing a test on a remote object solves the object of the invention. Likewise triggers a use of a

The inventive remote sensing system for inspecting a vehicle, the object of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments and the figures. All described and / or illustrated features alone and in any combination form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their composition in the individual Claims or their relationships. In the figures, the same reference numerals for identical or similar objects.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic overview of the inventive

Telemetry system.

Figs. 2a to 2c show an exemplary view of a to be transmitted

Screen content of a tester.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an inventive

Process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a remote measuring system 2 which has at least one test device 4, a switching unit 6 with a data processing unit 8 and an operating unit 10. The switching unit 6 is connected to the test device 4 via a first data connection 12, which may be implemented, for example, in the form of a conventional connection type such as Ethernet, FireWire, USB or the like. The tester 4 is thereby enabled to send a continuous first measurement data stream to the exchange unit 6. This first measured data stream could include image data and numerical measured values, wherein the image data may also include measured values in the form of overlays. The realized form of the test apparatus 4 is very flexible, practically all test apparatuses available on the free market can be used in the system 2 according to the invention as long as they are able to generate a first measurement data stream. This measurement data stream does not necessarily have to be digital in nature, but could also be present in analog form, wherein the switching unit 6 would then have to have a corresponding digitization unit 14. In the simplest case, the testing device 4 could be implemented as a computing unit on which a specialized test application is installed and in connection with external

connected sensors 16 is operated. The testing device 4 has, for example, a screen 18, on which measurement results, ultrasound or X-ray images and the like are displayed. Optionally, the tester could also be set up only to prepare data for a screen and provide it to a video adapter for direct connection of an external monitor or to generate a screen display only via a standardized protocol, such as an X Window environment. All kinds of

Screen displays can accordingly be sent via the first data connection 12 and a corresponding interface 20 to the switching unit 6, where further processing of the represented screen content takes place. To increase the flexibility of the system according to the invention, the

Switching unit 6 a plurality of different standardized interfaces 20, so that testers 4 different manufacturers are easily connected to the switching unit 6.

Alternatively, the tester 4 can also provide numerous measured values and digital or analog video data, the latter being digitized accordingly by the digitizing unit 14 and detected as the first measurement data stream. Any digital numbered readings could be included in the first data stream using a multiplexer or other means or separated be treated as an additional measurement data stream transmitted separately from video or image data.

In the following example, it is assumed that the first measurement data stream represents a screen content of the tester 4 and is transmitted via the Remote Frame Buffer Protocol (RFP). This first data stream with the image data and / or measurement data of the test apparatus 4 is stored in the data processing unit 8 of FIG

Switching unit 6 for the long-distance transmission compressed. The data processing unit could compress the received image of the tester 4 with a common or specially adapted for the inventive telemetry system 2 Ko dierver, with about a discrete cosine transform for preparing the image data and then a quantization are performed.

These data prepared in this way are passed as the second measurement data stream via a second data connection 22 to the operating unit 10, wherein the operating unit 10 could also be positioned at a very far away location. The

Connection speed of the second data link 22 could

be accordingly low. For fast and uncomplicated commissioning of the remote measuring system according to the invention, for example, in a foreign

Corporate environment could offer itself to realize the second data connection 22 with an ISDN connection, since necessary technical preparatory work, bureaucratic and administrative effort and the like in relation to a company network avoided and ISDN lines can be used quickly. However, in the case of regular or permanent connections between two fixed locations for the switching unit and the operating unit, it may still be advisable to select an IP-based transmission. The operating unit 10 is configured to control signals via the second

Data connection 22 to the switching unit 6 to send, so that, for example, the quantization can be controlled by the data processing unit 8 with the aid of these control signals. If, for example, it is necessary to move the sensor 16 embodied by way of example as an ultrasonic sensor on an outer skin of an object to be examined 24 and to observe changes in measured data during the movement, it is advantageous to use a correspondingly high level

Update rate of the measured data. Accordingly, in such applications, the update rate may be high, but the resulting image quality may be quite low. Become the global

Observed measured data changes and found, for example, a final location for the sensor 16, the quantization could be adjusted so that the rate of update of the second measured data stream is reduced, but the quality of the transmitted image signals are increased.

Although in Fig. 1 as an object 24, although an aircraft, this is, however, to be considered as an example only and could be any kind of a larger object, whose transport to a remote expert is too complex.

In Fig. 2a, the content of the screen 18 of the tester 4 is shown as an example, which is divided here by way of example in four areas. For example, status messages can be displayed on an upper side 26, side panels 28 and on the underside 30 control elements can be represented which vary depending on the application

Functions can fulfill. On the largest part of the screen 18, a video presentation can take place, which shows approximately ultrasound or X-ray images 32 and associated measured value diagrams 34. These representations are merely to understand by example and can be sensed by any other

Data representations are replaced.

If the screen content of a test device 4 is transmitted by means of the inventive remote measuring system 2, it could turn out to be advantageous to feed out individual areas of the screen in the exchange unit 6, so that the resulting update rate can be increased. This could be up

For example, refer to status messages on the top 26 as shown in Fig. 2c or the mere representation of ultrasound images 32, which could be relevant for example in the repositioning or when setting the tester 4, as shown in Fig. 2b. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that these illustrations are merely exemplary and other portions of any screen content of any type may be filtered out for sole transmission.

Finally, FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a method according to the invention which could essentially comprise the following steps. The operating unit 10 could send control signals to the switching unit 6, from where the relevant parts, that is to say the control signals relating to the checking device 4, are sent to the testing device 4. If some of the control signals represent, for example, a request to change a setting of the tester 4, the tester 4 will make this setting 40. Control signals used to change the setting

Quantization settings or the like used remain in the switching unit 6.

In general, 42 sends the tester 4, the first measurement data stream to the

Switching unit 6. Depending on the type of data within the first measured data stream an initial digitization 44 may be required. If the test device 4 is designed as an independent computing unit that is equipped with a screen or devices for generating a screen display, such a digitization is no longer necessary. The first measurement data stream could be processed 46 in a subsequent step with the discrete cosine transformation, followed by a quantization 48, which can be controlled by the control signals from the operating unit 10.

Subsequently, the resulting compressed second measurement data stream is sent to the operating unit 10 50.

In parallel to this, it would be advantageous, independently of the other method steps, to allow the bidirectional transmission 52 of additional communication data between the operating unit and the switching unit, the data being reproduced by the respectively received communication data. The

Communication data could be, for example, spoken, textually transmitted or realized with video data instructions for prompting a helping person on site to make adjustments to the tester 4, reposition one or more sensors 16 or the like.

An expert removed from the object to be tested receives an immediate and qualified impression of the course and results of an inspection or investigation. He can hints e.g. for proper handling or for changing a recording mode or a recording location. Due to the possibility of using ISDN in frequently changing locations of the switching unit and the operating unit, a connection with defined quality of service properties is available

Available. If required, the high level of data security that ISDN brings can be increased by encryption. The involved devices of the Remote measuring system 2 according to the invention can operate detached from a local EDP and external network infrastructure, which favors a quick and flexible deployment even with a short-term change of location. Thus, in this case the remote measuring system 2 according to the invention could be superior to all IP-based solutions, even if the data rate is limited. By the possibility

Viewing examination results and live images on the operating unit 10 in parallel creates a previously impossible, realistic impression. Due to the greatly accelerated expert support in the implementation of complex

Investigations will save time and the know-how transfer and the use of experienced experts will be significantly optimized.

In addition, it should be noted that "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. "It should also be understood that features or steps described with reference to any of the above embodiments are also in combination may be used with other features or steps of other embodiments described above

To look at limitation.

E N G L IS H E N C H E N

2 erf Fernndungsgemäßes remote measuring system

4 tester

6 exchange unit

8 data processing unit

10 control unit

12 first data connection

14 digitizing unit

16 sensor

18 screen

20 interface

22 second data connection

24 object to be examined

26 top

28 left side

30 bottom

32 ultrasound or X-ray image

34 diagram

36 sending control signals to the switching unit

38 sending control signals to the tester

40 Making a Setting

42 sending a first measured data stream to the switching unit

44 digitization

46 performing a discrete cosine transformation

48 quantization

50 sending a second measured data stream to the operating unit

52 Transfer additional communication data

54 Playing Communication Data

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Remote measuring system (2), comprising

at least one test device (4) connected to at least one sensor (16),

at least one switching unit (6) and

at least one operating unit (10),

wherein the operating unit (10) is adapted to send control signals for driving the tester (4) to the exchange unit (6);

wherein the switching unit (6) is adapted to a first

Receive measurement data of the tester (4), by means of a

Data processing unit (8) to perform a compression of the first measurement data stream and to send a resulting compressed second measurement data stream to the operating unit (10);

wherein the data processing unit (8) is adapted to the second

Quantize the measurement data stream and adapt to the available data transmission bandwidth between the switching unit (6) and the operating unit (10), wherein the quantization is controllable by the control signals to the operating unit (10).

2. Remote measuring system (2) according to claim 1, wherein the first measurement data stream contains image data.

3. Remote measuring system (2) according to claim 2, wherein the image data have mappings of measured values and status data of the test apparatus (4).

4. Remote measuring system (2) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the test device (4) is adapted to generate image data for a screen (18) for displaying measurement data and the first measurement data stream represents the screen content of the tester (4).

The telemetry system (2) of claim 4, wherein the first measurement data stream and the second measurement data stream comprise image data on a remote frame buffer protocol (RFP) basis.

6. telemetry system (2) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the

Data processing unit (8) is set up, on request by

Control signals from the operating unit (10) to process only a portion of an image represented by the image data and hide the remaining part of the image.

7. Remote measuring system (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data processing unit (8) is adapted to reduce in the quantization of the update rate or the detail sharpness of the second measured data stream.

8. The telemetry system (2) according to claim 7, wherein the data processing unit is configured to decrease the refresh rate or the detail sharpness of the second measured data stream on demand by control signals from the

Operating unit.

9. telemetry system (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching unit (6) and the operating unit (10) are coupled together via an ISDN line.

10. Remote measuring system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching unit (6) and the operating unit (10) are adapted to send a communication data stream from the operating unit (10) to the switching unit (6) and at the switching unit (6 ) play.

11. A method of performing a test method on a remote object (24), comprising the steps of:

Transmitting (36) control signals for driving a tester (4) from an operating unit (10) to a switch (6) connected to the tester;

Sending (42) a first measured data stream to the switching unit

(6);

Performing quantization (48) of the first measurement data stream in a data processing unit (8) of the switching unit (6) to obtain a second measurement data stream;

Sending (50) the second measurement data stream from the

Switching unit (6) to the control unit (10).

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

- transmitting (38) control signals from the switching unit (6) to the tester (4) for setting (40) the tester (4).

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, further comprising the steps of:

Bidirectional transmission (52) of communication data between the operating unit (10) and the switching unit (6) and

Playback (54) of the communication data.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising the step:

- Digitizing (44) of the first measured data stream.

15. Use of a telemetry system according to one of claims 1 to 10 for examining a vehicle.