# US 2016/0257429 A1 · Aircraft lru data collection and reliability prediction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0257429 A1 - Document ID: US20160257429A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/636,883 - Filed: 2015-03-03 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-03 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Roland Szeto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160257429A1 ## CPC - B64F 5/60: Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems - G05B 23/0235: {based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold} - G05B 13/026: {using a predictor} - G05B 23/0232: {based on qualitative trend analysis, e.g. system evolution} - G05B 23/0237: {based on parallel systems, e.g. comparing signals produced at the same time by same type systems and detect faulty ones by noticing differences among their responses} - G05B 23/0283: {Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] (preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06)} - G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)} - G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)} - G07C 5/006: {Indicating maintenance} - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A remote computing system is described that includes at least one processor and at least one module. The at least one module is operable by the at least one processor to receive first operational data collected by a first line-replaceable-unit of a first aircraft during flight operations of the first aircraft, and receive second operational data collected by at least one second line-replaceable-unit of at least one second aircraft during flight operations of the at least one second aircraft. The at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to predict, based at least in part on the first operational data and the second operational data, a failure condition associated with the first line-replaceable-unit of the first aircraft, and output, based on the impending failure condition, an indication of the predicted failure condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining failure conditions associated with aircraft installed line-replaceable-units, the method comprising: receiving, by a remote computing system, first operational data collected by a first line-replaceable-unit of a first aircraft during flight operations of the first aircraft; receiving, by the remote computing system, second operational data collected by at least one second line-replaceable-unit of at least one second aircraft during flight operations of the at least one second aircraft; predicting, by the remote computing system, based at least in part on the first operational data and the second operational data, a failure condition associated with the first line-replaceable-unit of the first aircraft; and outputting, by the remote computing system, an indication of the failure condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the remote computing system, a preventative action associated with the first line-replaceable-unit for preventing the failure condition; and outputting, by the remote computing system, an indication of the preventative action. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first operational data is received wirelessly via a communication link established directly with the first line-replaceable-unit of the first aircraft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first operational data is received wirelessly via a communication link established between the first line-replaceable-unit of the first aircraft and the remote computing system after the first aircraft has landed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first operational data is received wirelessly via a communication link established between the first line-replaceable-unit of the first aircraft and a ground station of the remote computing system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first operational data comprises one or more operational parameters being monitored by a built-in-test module of the first line-replaceable-unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein predicting the failure condition comprises: identifying, by the remote computing system, one or more trends in the second operational data that caused an operational failure of the second line-replaceable-unit; and comparing, by the remote computing system, the first operational data to the one or more trends to determine whether the failure condition associated with the first line-replaceable-unit is likely to occur. ### Claim 8 A remote computing system for determining failure conditions associated with aircraft installed line-replaceable-units, the remote computing system comprising: at least one processor; and at least one module operable by the at least one processor to: receive first operational data collected by a first line-replaceable-unit, installed onboard a first aircraft, during flight operations of the first aircraft; receive second operational data collected by at least one second line-replaceable-unit, installed onboard at least one second aircraft, during flight operations of the at least one second aircraft; predict, based at least in part on the first operational data and the second operational data, a failure condition associated with the first line-replaceable-unit; and output, an indication of the failure condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The remote computing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to: determine a preventative action associated with the first line-replaceable-unit for preventing the failure condition; and output an indication of the preventative action. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The remote computing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to receive the first operational data collected by the first line-replaceable-unit during flight via a wireless communication link established between the first line-replaceable-unit, the remote computing system, and an airport network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The remote computing system of claim 8, wherein the remote computing device comprises a ground station configured to send the first and second operational data for analysis by a remote fault detection system, wherein at least one module operable by the at least one processor to predict the failure condition by at least receiving information from the remote fault detection system that is indicative of the failure condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The remote computing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one module operable by the at least one processor to output the indication of the failure condition for display at a graphical user interface associated with the remote computing system. ### Claim 13 A line-replaceable-unit configured for installation in an aircraft comprising: at least one processor; and at least one module operable by the at least one processor to: during flight operations of the aircraft, automatically collect operational data associated with the line-replaceable-unit; responsive to determining that the aircraft has landed, automatically establish a communication session with a ground station; and automatically output, to a ground station, the operational data via the communication session for subsequent transmission to a remote computing system configured to predict, based on the operational data, one or more failure conditions associated with the line-replaceable-unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The line-replaceable-unit of claim 13, further comprising a memory, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to: detect a value of an operational parameter associated with the line-replaceable-unit; and store, at the memory, as the operational data being collected during flight operations of the aircraft, the value of the operational parameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The line-replaceable-unit of claim 13, wherein the line-replaceable-unit comprises at least one of a radar system, an onboard computer system, a terrain and traffic collision avoidance system, a communication radio, an engine, an engine controller, a flight management system, a radio altimeter, a navigation system, or a flight warning computer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The line-replaceable-unit of claim 13, wherein the operational data associated with the line-replaceable-unit comprises an indication of at least one of: voltage or current level information; temperature information; motor speed information; engine thrust information; acceleration information; barometric pressure information; transmission power information; audio level information; humidity level information; or single event upsets information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The line-replaceable-unit of claim 13, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to automatically collect the operational data by at least: detecting one or more single event upsets; and storing, at a memory of the line-replaceable-unit, information associated with the one or more single event upsets. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The line-replaceable-unit of claim 17, wherein the information associated with the one or more single event upsets comprises at least one of: a time of each, or a range of times, of the one or more single event upsets; a quantity of the one or more single event upsets; and an indication of whether each, or any, of the one or more single events upsets triggered a recoverable or non-recoverable memory error associated with a memory of the line-replaceable-unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The line-replaceable-unit of claim 13, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to automatically collect the operational data by at least: detecting an input voltage or current level associated with the line-replaceable-unit; and storing as the operational data associated with the line-replaceable-unit, information associated with the input voltage or current level. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The line-replaceable-unit of claim 19, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to detect the input voltage or current level associated with the line-replaceable-unit further by at least: determining whether the input voltage or current level satisfies a threshold level for an acceptable input voltage or current level; and responsive to determining that the input voltage or current level does not satisfy the threshold level, storing, at a memory of the line-replaceable-unit, an indication of when and by how much the input voltage or current level deviated from the threshold level.