Digital Recording and Replay System for an Aircraft and Method for Reproduction of Onboard Instrumentation of an Aircraft

Abstract

Digital recording and replay system ( 100 ) for an aircraft, comprising a Mission Computer (MC) with an Operational Flight Program (OFP) for generating instrument data (ID) for onboard instruments of the aircraft; a Mission Data Recorder (MDR) connected to said Mission Computer (MC) for recording said instrument data (ID); and a Mission Debriefing System (MDS); wherein the Mission Debriefing System (MDS) is configured to reproduce the onboard instruments of the aircraft based on instrument data (ID) retrieved from the Mission Data Recorder (MDR). Method for reproduction of onboard instrumentation of an aircraft, comprising the steps of connecting a Mission Data Recorder (MDR) to a Mission Computer (MC) of an aircraft having an Operational Flight Program (OFP) for generating instrument data (ID) for onboard instruments; recording instrument data (ID); providing a Mission Debrief System (MDS) and causing it to reproduce the onboard instruments of the aircraft based on instrument data (ID) retrieved from the Mission MDS Data Recorder (MDR).

1 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft, comprising:
 a Mission Computer with an Operational Flight Program configured to digital signal process input source signals and generate instrument data of onboard instruments of an aircraft;   a Mission Data Recorder operatively connected to said Mission Computer configured to record said instrument data; and   a Mission Debriefing System configured to reproduce the onboard instruments of the aircraft based on instrument data retrieved from the Mission Data Recorder.   
     
     
         2 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 1 ,
 the Mission Data Recorder comprising a first means for receiving a Removable Memory Module configured to store said instrument data.   
     
     
         3 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 2 ,
 the Mission Debriefing System comprising a second means for receiving a Removable Memory Module configured to store said instrument data.   
     
     
         4 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the Mission Debriefing System is operatively connectable to said Mission Data Recorder and configured to retrieve said recorded instrument data and subsequently reproduce the onboard instruments of the aircraft within the aircraft using onboard instruments of the aircraft based on instrument data retrieved from the Mission Data Recorder.   
     
     
         5 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein said instrument data comprises parameters of an avionics system of the aircraft and wherein said reproduction by the Mission Debriefing System comprises a reconstruction of a display as a pilot would see the display during a flight of the aircraft during which said instrument data has been recorded. 
     
     
         6 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein said instrument data comprises input data transferred to a graphics card of the aircraft and driving a display of the aircraft. 
     
     
         7 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the Mission Computer is configured to send said input data as packets to the Mission Data Recorder.   
     
     
         8 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the Mission Computer is configured to include in said packets a header defining the data contained within the packet.   
     
     
         9 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 7 , wherein the Mission Computer is configured to send additional packets to the Mission Data Recorder comprising data of additional aircraft avionics systems other than said display. 
     
     
         10 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein said instrument data comprises event data generated in response to pilot actions. 
     
     
         11 . A digital recording and replay system for an aircraft according to  claim 10 , wherein said event data is generated from onboard controls of the aircraft. 
     
     
         12 . A method of reproducing onboard instrumentation of an aircraft, comprising the steps of:
 operatively connecting a Mission Data Recorder to a Mission Computer of an aircraft having an Operational Flight Program configured to generate instrument data of onboard instruments of the aircraft;   recording instrument data generated by the Mission Computer using said Mission Data Recorder; and   reproducing the onboard instruments of the aircraft with a Mission Debrief System based on instrument data retrieved from the Mission Data Recorder.   
     
     
         13 . A method of reproducing onboard instrumentation of an aircraft according to  claim 12 , wherein the Mission Data Recorder comprises a first means for receiving a Removable Memory Module configured to store said instrument data, and further comprising the steps of inserting a Removable Memory Module configured to store said instrument data into said first means, and storing said instrument data in the Removable Memory Module. 
     
     
         14 . A method of reproducing onboard instrumentation of an aircraft according to  claim 13 , wherein the Mission Debriefing System comprises a second means for receiving said Removable Memory Module, and further comprising the steps of:
 removing the Removable Memory Module from said first means; and   inserting the Removable Memory Module into the second means.   
     
     
         15 . A method of reproducing onboard instrumentation of an aircraft according to  claim 12 , wherein the reproducing step includes the steps of:
 operatively connecting the Mission Debriefing System to the Mission Data Recorder;   retrieving said recorded instrument data; and   reproducing the onboard instruments of the aircraft within the aircraft using onboard instruments of the aircraft.   
     
     
         16 . A digital recording and display system for an aircraft according to  claim 3 , further comprising a Removable Memory Module configured to store said instrument data, removable from said first means, and insertable into the second means.