Development of a HUMS based Aircraft Wiring Diagnostic System

Innovative Dynamics Inc. proposes to develop an onboard Wiring Diagnostic System and HUMS Software Module to monitor the health of aircraft wiring and guide maintenance activities. The wiring diagnostic system will operate continuously in-flight so that intermittent conditions can be detected as they happen. Under a Phase I program, wiring fault tests were performed using embedded wiring sensors mounted on an engine test stand in a representative acoustic environment. Ground testing onboard an H-53 was also performed to determine feasibility of the sensors to function in the aircraft flight regime. Phase II will develop a distributed multi-node sensor system for in-flight testing. Passive sensors will be integrated into a “smart clamp” that will be a direct replacement or upgrade of existing certified wiring mounts. A diagnostic Software Module will be embedded into an existing HUMS processing board and undergo flight evaluation testing. Integration techniques will address the wiring complexity of legacy aircraft as well as new wiring architectures. IDI will work with the Navy as well as a Tier I supplier to develop a HUMS Software Module that can be applied to the H-53, V-22 tilt-rotor and H-1 upgrade helicopter programs.