Patent ID: 8849603

Claim:
A method of testing a component of a mobile platform without requiring a controller of an aircraft control system of the mobile platform to perform a test operation, where the component forms a part of the aircraft control system, the method comprising: using a test controller to obtain information from the controller of the aircraft control system concerning a specific component of the mobile platform to be tested, and to initiate a said test operation on the specific component, said test controller forms a portion of a non-intrusive test system carried on the mobile platform and the test controller is useable during operation of the mobile platform during flight operations; using said test operation to generate a perturbance test signal; applying said perturbance test signal to an aero test subsystem of the non-intrusive test system, which is carried on said mobile platform but operable independent of said aircraft control system, to cause the aero test subsystem to generate an airflow signal in proximity to the specific component being tested; using said airflow signal generated by the aero test subsystem to act on said component of said aircraft control system; evaluating a response of said component; and providing information on the response back to the test controller.