System Software

This is embedded in all Rotortuners and is commonly referred to as firmware. It remains loaded and is not changed, at least not on a day-to-day basis.

The firmware provides system functionality. When necessary Helitune release Firmware Upgrades which provide the operator with additional or improved system capability. Unless there is a requirement for supporting hardware changes all firmware upgrades can be undertaken using a Firmware Upgrade Card without the need to open the equipment.

Applications Software - Overview

Individual applications software programmes provide the Rotortuner with instructions regarding a specific diagnostic function, how to perform it, and provide the variables specific to aircraft type and mark on which it is to be executed. The application software code structure and the medium on which it is supplied is however unique to each type Rotortuner system, RT-2000 or RT-5 JS+.

These programmes are supplied with each Rotortuner system according to customer request, we call them Data Cards. For example the Data Card required to perform a Rotor Track and Balance on a CH-47D Chinook has a distinctly different programme to that which is used to conduct an Oil Cooler Fan Balance on an AS-532 Mk.II Cougar.

A Data Card is built up with a number of individual sub-elements each with distinct functionality:

• The ‘Personality’ – this describes the basic fixed parameters of the aircraft, numbers of blades, their identity names and colours, balance points, direction of rotation etc.

• The ‘Order Sheet’ – this describes the speed relationship of all components in the drive train to aid identification in vibration analysis.

• The ‘Set-up-Instructions’ – define the location of all transducers and specific conditions to be set for a particular test.

• The ‘Auto-Test Schedule’ – identifies to the particular individual items of data to be automatically collected at each test condition.

• The ‘Prompts’ - are created to permit the operator to enter information regarding usage information, for example the aircraft flight hours, operators name, etc.

• The ‘Auxilliary’ file – identifies the parameters required to conduct a vibration absorber tuning test, on those aircraft where this is applicable.

Generic Application Software

The Data Card supplied to the majority of our customers is generic to the specified type and mark of aircraft in ‘standard clean’ operational configuration.

Specifically Configured Applications Software

There are certain occasions when the generic Data Card is not entirely applicable and may need some refinement. This is the case when the fitment of role equipment such as internal long-range fuel tanks, surveillance equipment, external weapons or rescue equipment can significantly influence the aircraft vibration characteristics.

They generally increase the operational mass, shift the centre of gravity, and demand increased power and pitch to achieve the test conditions established for a standard clean aircraft. Additionally externally fitted equipment can cause aerodynamically induced vibration to the detriment of the equipment itself and the airframe.

Helitune offer a service to adapt the aircraft generic Data Cards to reflect the particular individual aircraft when fitted with role equipment.

Application Software – Data Card Part Number Identification

Helitune operate a descriptive Part Numbering system for Data Cards consisting of 8 elements, as an example: HSAEUR0201E422

Where:

Elements	Information Identified	Example	In this instance
1st	Data transfer media	H	68 Pin SRAM Card
2nd	Helitune equipment type	S	RT-2000
3rd	System application	A	Rotor Track & Balance
4th	Aircraft manufacturer	EUR	Eurocopter
5th	Aircraft type	02	EC135
6th	Aircraft mark	01	P2
7th	Operating language	E	English
8th	Firmware revision	422	Firmware Version 4.22

(Customers should be aware that 6th element, which describes the ‘Aircraft Mark’ uses a Helitune convention which is not always reflected in the manufacturers specific description. The reason is that manufacturers don’t always differentiate between aircraft of differing build standards in their naming conventions. For example a modification which replaces metal main rotor blades with composite, or modifies the stiffness of an elastomeric bearing, or upgrades from one supplier of tail rotor blades to another, all serve to alter the dynamic response of the aircraft. As a consequence the Helitune application software must reflect these differences and be identifiable by a change of designation.)

Test Cards

The applications software Data Cards are the ‘Master’ data files and supplied on a secure ‘read-only’ medium, such as EPROM, this is to prevent the loss or corruption of the information. However when flight data, track, balance or vibration signatures are acquired from the aircraft they must be stored on a writeable medium together with the Data Card information.

Each Rotortuner equipment, RT-2000 and RT-5JS+ has its own specific method, detailed in the Equipment Operators Manual, to copy the contents of the Data Card to a re-writeable medium such as an SRAM card. The operator, as part of the data collection procedure, appends the individual aircraft identity – tail number – to the Test Card, thus uniquely identifying the test data to a specific aircraft.

Test Cards can hold many flights of test data over a long period of time. The actual amount is only restricted by the capacity of the Test Card. All Test Cards may be archived into the Rotortuner Vision groundstation.