Non-Conformance Mapping and Visualization
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBrian N. Slack, Thomas Alexander Brown, Jennifer Diane MacKay, Guy Stockie, Yanxin Emily Wang, Lori Lynne Woodbury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Areas of non-conformances in a manufactured object are electronically mapped within a coordinate system of the object. Boundary lines of the areas containing the non-conformances are displayed on a 3-D image of the product. Visualization of the boundary lines of areas containing multiple non-conformances allows tracking of non-conformances, identification of trends in non-conformances and correction of production processes in order to reduce non-conformances.
Claims20
A method of mapping and visualizing non-conformances on an object, comprising:
- determining a location of each of the non-conformances on the object;
- generating an electronic record, by a processor, containing spatial coordinates of the non-conformances within a 3-D coordinate system;
- calculating boundaries, by a processor, of an area on the object containing the non-conformances based on the spatial coordinates contained in the electronic record;
- and
- generating an electronic image of the object, including displaying the boundaries of the area containing the non-conformances to allow visualization of the area containing the non-conformances.
A method of visualizing an area of non-conformances in a manufactured object, comprising:
- generating a 3-D electronic display of the object;
- selecting points on the 3-D electronic display respectively corresponding to locations of the non-conformances on the object;
- using a programmed computer to convert each of the points on the 3-D electronic display into a set of coordinates defining the locations of the non-conformances within a coordinate system of the object;
- using a programmed computer to calculate boundaries of an area containing the non-conformances based on the set of coordinates;
- and
- generating an electronic image of the object, including displaying the boundaries of the area containing the non-conformances to allow a user to visualize the area containing the non-conformances.
A manufacturing method, comprising:
- identifying non-conformances on each of a plurality of substantially identical manufactured objects;
- generating an electronic record, by a processor, for each of the objects, including entering spatial locations of non-conformances on the object into each of the records;
- mapping the non-conformances on each of the objects, using the electronic records and a processor;
- and
- displaying an electronic image of one of the objects, including displaying boundary lines of areas containing non-conformances for each of the objects.
A system for tracking non-conformances of aircraft occurring during production, comprising:
- at least one electronic display for displaying a 3-D image of the aircraft;
- an electronic file containing a 3-D model of the aircraft;
- an input device configured to allow a user to input non-conformances based on the 3-D image on the electronic display;
- a programmed computer coupled with the electronic display, the electronic file and the input device;
- and
- a software program accessible by the computer, the software program including a routine for mapping the spatial locations of the non-conformances in 3-D, and a routine for calculating boundaries of a 3-D area containing the non-conformances to allow visualization on the display of non-conformances within the boundaries.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.