	US 12,067,813 B2
	Sensor quality detection
Ross D. Anderson, Lakeville, MN (US); Subhashish Chakravarty, Marion, IA (US); and Matthew M. Lorch, Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Assigned to Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Filed by Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/164,354.
Prior Publication US 2022/0245975 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. G07C 5/08 (2006.01); B60W 50/02 (2012.01); G01M 99/00 (2011.01); G05B 23/02 (2006.01); G07C 5/00 (2006.01)

CPC G07C 5/0808 (2013.01) [B60W 50/0205 (2013.01); G01M 99/008 (2013.01); G05B 23/0205 (2013.01); G07C 5/006 (2013.01); G07C 5/008 (2013.01); G07C 5/0816 (2013.01)]

15 Claims

1. A system for sensor quality detection, comprising:

at least one sensor sited onboard a first vehicle;

at least one state sensor onboard the first vehicle configured to measure at least one state variable associated with the first vehicle;

at least one environmental sensor onboard the first vehicle configured to measure at least one environmental condition proximal with the first vehicle;

a database of environmental sensor performance factors onboard the first vehicle associated with an expected performance of the at least one sensor, the expected performance based on at least one environmental sensor performance factor within the database of environmental sensor performance factors;

a communication system onboard the first vehicle, the communication system configured at least to receive one of the at least one environmental condition;

a controller operatively coupled with the at least one sensor, the at least one state sensor, the at least one environmental sensor, the database of environmental sensor performance factors, and the communication system;

a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored therein that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to:

receive a current tasking of the first vehicle, the current tasking at least one task assigned to the first vehicle;

receive, from the at least one state sensor, the at least one state variable of the first vehicle;

receive from the at least one environmental sensor the at least one environmental condition;

receive from the database of environmental sensor performance factors, the at least one environmental sensor performance factor;

determine an expected output from the at least one sensor based on each of: 1) the current tasking, 2) the at least one state variable of the first vehicle, 3) the at least one environmental condition, and 4) the at least one environmental sensor performance factor;

receive an actual output from the at least one sensor;

compare the actual output to the expected output;

quantify a degradation of the at least one sensor based on the comparison;

determine a sensor effectiveness of the at least one sensor based on the quantified degradation and the at least one task assigned to the first vehicle;

determine a mission health of the current tasking based on the 1) the sensor effectiveness of the at least one sensor, 2) the at least one state variable of the first vehicle, 3) the at least one environmental condition, 4) the at least one environmental sensor performance factor, and 5) the current tasking, the mission health a measurement of sensor effectiveness in completing the current tasking with the quantified degradation of the at least one sensor; and

transfer the current tasking to a second vehicle having an operational sensor capable of performing the current tasking if the determined mission health falls below a predetermined value.