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US 11,882,985 B2Granted
Smart industrial vacuum cleaner to reduce foreign object debris
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRahul C. Thakkar, Robert John Rencher, Surya Pandrangi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuuming device. The device includes a sensor connected to at least a suction head, and is configured to sense a parameter of foreign object debris (FOD) in the suction head. The device also includes a positioning sensor connected to the suction head and configured to ascertain a position of the suction head within an area in which the device is located. The device also includes a computer in communication with the sensor and the positioning sensor. The computer is programmed to classify the FOD using the parameter, and use the position of the suction head to determine a pick-up location of the FOD.
Claims20
A vacuuming device, comprising:
- a sensor connected to at least a suction head, and is configured to sense a plurality of parameters of a plurality of different foreign object debris (FOD) in the suction head, the plurality of different FOD having a plurality of different sizes;
- a positioning sensor connected to the suction head and configured to ascertain a position of the suction head within an area in which the vacuuming device is located;
- and
- a computer in communication with the sensor and the positioning sensor, wherein the computer is programmed to:
- classify a plurality of categories of the plurality of different FOD using the parameter,
- use the position of the suction head to determine a plurality of pick-up locations of the plurality of different FOD,
- record a plurality of locations in pre-defined sub-areas, within the area, where the FOD was vacuumed during an initial vacuuming of the area;
- and
- optimize a path, for a subsequent vacuuming of the area after the initial vacuuming of the area, of the vacuuming device in the area that was previously vacuumed based on a combination of the plurality of locations in the pre-defined sub-areas and the plurality of categories of the plurality of different FOD already vacuumed during the initial vacuuming of the area.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- vacuuming an area substantially entirely using a vacuum machine so as to pick up plurality of different foreign object debris (FOD) into the vacuum machine, the plurality of different FOD having a plurality of different sizes;
- sensing, with a sensor of the vacuum machine, a plurality of parameters of the plurality of different FOD;
- identifying, a plurality of categories of the plurality of different FOD based on the plurality of parameters;
- reporting the plurality of categories of the plurality of different FOD;
- recording a plurality of locations in pre-defined sub-areas, within the area, where the plurality of different FOD was vacuumed;
- completing an initial vacuuming of the area;
- optimizing a path, for a subsequent vacuuming of the area after the initial vacuuming of the area, of the vacuuming machine in the area that was previously vacuumed based on a combination of the plurality of locations in the pre-defined sub-areas and the plurality of categories of the plurality of different FOD already vacuumed during the initial vacuuming of the area, to generate an optimized path;
- and
- performing, by the vacuum machine, the subsequent vacuuming of the area using the optimized path.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- vacuuming an area using a vacuum machine, wherein:
- the vacuum machine comprises a negative pressure source, a vacuum head connected to the negative pressure source, and a sensor connected to the vacuum machine,
- vacuuming picks up foreign object debris (FOD) into the vacuum machine, and
- the area comprises a plurality of stations at which a corresponding plurality of machines generate at least a portion of the FOD;
- sensing, with the sensor, a parameter of the FOD;
- formatting the parameter as a data structure;
- identifying, using a computer analyzing the data structure, a category of the FOD;
- recording, using the computer, a location of the FOD;
- receiving, using the computer, data describing the plurality of stations;
- and
- identifying, using a combination of the category of the FOD, the location of the FOD, and the data describing the plurality of stations, a first station within the plurality of stations for evaluation of a modification to an operational procedure performed by
- a first machine, of the corresponding plurality of machines,
- the first machine located at the first station, and
- the modification comprising a change to production of at least some of the FOD produced by the first machine.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.