Automatic digital data feedback and utilization in aircraft part lifecycle
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsGary E. Georgeson, Jeong-Beom Ihn, William T. McDowell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aircraft lifecycle in which digital data for an aircraft part is automatically collected, retained, and utilized to individualize aircraft inspection and maintenance is described. Several types of data, including non-destructive evaluation and measurement data and structural health monitoring data, are used in a feedback loop having various phases which may automatically receive data in digital format from other phases. In this manner the part being designed, fabricated, tested, and maintained for the aircraft is optimized and processes involved in the lifecycle of the part is made more efficient.
Claims32
A method of utilizing automatic feedback data in a lifecycle of an aircraft part, the method comprising:
- designing the aircraft part based on in-service data, manufacturing-related data, and test feedback data, wherein a design of the aircraft part is derived;
- testing the design of the aircraft part using model feedback data, design input data, and inspection data;
- evaluating the aircraft part while in use, thereby deriving in-use data, and wherein a current state of the aircraft part is compared with an original scan data of the aircraft part, the original scan data of the aircraft part received from a test stage, and wherein the in-use data is automatically transmitted to a design stage;
- and
- monitoring a structural integrity of the aircraft part while in use, wherein a structural health of the aircraft part is obtained.
A method of utilizing automatic feedback data relating to an aircraft part, the method comprising:
- receiving testing data, in-service data, lifecycle data, and manufacture feedback data at a design stage;
- designing the aircraft part using the testing data, the in-service data, the lifecycle data, and the manufacture feedback data, thereby creating a design of the aircraft part;
- receiving test instructions data from the design stage at a test stage;
- testing the design of the aircraft part;
- transmitting the testing stage data to the design stage and build-related test stage data to a build stage;
- and
- fabricating the aircraft part at the build stage.
An automatic feedback data system comprising:
- a design module configured to create an aircraft part design for an aircraft part and to automatically receive testing data, manufacturing data, in-service evaluation data, in-service monitoring data, aircraft part life extension data, and aircraft part finality data and to automatically transmit aircraft part design data;
- a test module configured to test the aircraft part design and to automatically receive the aircraft part design and to automatically transmit digital test feedback data and the aircraft part design;
- a build module configured to facilitate fabrication of the aircraft part and to automatically receive the aircraft part design and to automatically transmit design improvement data and to collect manufacturing equipment quality data;
- and
- a manufacture-validate module configured to validate aircraft part fabrication and aircraft part measurement and to automatically transmit digital manufacture validation data and to automatically create initial scan data of the aircraft part.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying program code, the program code to be executed to implement a method of utilizing automatic feedback data in a lifecycle of an aircraft part, the program code comprising:
- program code for designing the aircraft part based on in-service data, manufacturing-related data, and test feedback data, wherein a design of the aircraft part is derived;
- program code for testing the design of the aircraft part using model feedback data, design input data, and inspection data;
- program code for evaluating the aircraft part while in use;
- and
- program code for monitoring a structural integrity of the aircraft part while in use.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying program code, the program code to be executed to implement a method of utilizing automatic feedback data relating to an aircraft part, the program code comprising:
- program code for receiving testing data, in-service data, lifecycle data, and manufacture feedback data at a design stage;
- program code for designing the aircraft part using the testing data, the in-service data, the lifecycle data, and the manufacture feedback data, thereby creating a design of the aircraft part;
- program code for receiving test instructions data from the design stage at a test stage;
- program code for testing the design of the aircraft part;
- program code for transmitting the testing stage data to the design stage and build-related test stage data to a build stage;
- and
- program code for fabricating the aircraft part at the build stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.