# US 8,788,138 B1 · Diagnostic methods and systems for an aircraft

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- Number: US 8,788,138 B1
- Document ID: US8788138B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/777,664
- Filed: 2013-02-26
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2013-02-26
- Assignees: Honeywell International Inc.
- Applicants: Honeywell International Inc.
- Inventors: Aralakuppe Ramegowda Yogesha; Sundeep Vanka; Shaik Shafi Ahamed; Srinivasa Rao Dangeti; Zhenning Liu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788138B1

## CPC

- B64F 5/60: Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
- G05B 23/0229: {knowledge based, e.g. expert systems; genetic algorithms}
- G05B 23/0272: {Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user}
- G05B 23/0275: {Fault isolation and identification, e.g. classify fault; estimate cause or root of failure}
- 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)

## Abstract

A method is provided for diagnosing an aircraft. The method includes: determining a location of a fault in the aircraft; determining a zone of the aircraft that is associated with the location of the fault; and generating an interactive three-dimensional user interface based on the zone, wherein the interactive three-dimensional user interface provides fault data of at least one of historical faults and current faults associated with the zone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for a diagnosing an aircraft, comprising:
determining a location of a fault in the aircraft;
determining a zone of the aircraft that is associated with the location of the fault; and
generating an interactive three-dimensional user interface based on the zone, wherein the interactive three-dimensional user interface provides fault data of historical faults and current faults associated with the zone.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining the zone of the aircraft based on a geographic location of the fault.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the zone of the aircraft comprises determining the zone based on a power supply zone of the aircraft.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the zone of the aircraft comprises determining the zone based on pneumatic zone of the aircraft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the zone of the aircraft comprises determining the zone based on a hydraulic zone of the aircraft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the zone of the aircraft comprises determining the zone based on a communication zone of the aircraft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a knowledge base datastore with the historical fault data associated with the zone, and wherein the three-dimensional user interface provides fault data of the historical faults associated with the zone.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a knowledge base datastore with current fault data associated with the zone, and wherein the three-dimensional user interface provides fault data of the current faults associated with the zone.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising generating at least one recommendation for future design based on the data in the knowledge base datastore.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising generating maintenance decisions based on the data in the knowledge base datastore.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising correlating one or more faults of systems within the zone based on the fault data.

### Claim 12

A diagnostic system for an aircraft, comprising:
a computer readable medium comprising:
a first module that determines a location of a fault in the aircraft;
a second module that determines a zone of the aircraft that is associated with the location of the fault; and
a third module that generates an interactive three-dimensional user interface based on the zone, wherein the interactive three-dimensional user interface provides fault data of historical faults and current faults associated with the zone.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The diagnostic system of claim 12, wherein the interactive three-dimensional interface includes an image of the aircraft.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The diagnostic system of claim 13, wherein the image includes the aircraft having a transparent skin.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The diagnostic system of claim 12, wherein the zone of the aircraft is based on at least one of a geographic location of the fault, a power supply zone of the aircraft, a pneumatic zone of the aircraft, a hydraulic zone of the aircraft, and a communication zone of the aircraft.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The diagnostic system of claim 12, wherein the third module generates an interactive timeline of historical faults associated with the zone of the aircraft.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The diagnostic system of claim 16, wherein the timeline includes an adjustable slider bar that runs along the timeline.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein when the slider bar is set to a particular time along the timeline, the third module generates the three-dimensional user interface having fault data associated with the zone and that occurred at that time.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The diagnostic system of claim 12, wherein the second module maintains a knowledge base datastore with the historical fault data associated with the zone, and wherein the three-dimensional user interface provides fault data of the historical faults associated with the zone.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The diagnostic system of claim 19, wherein the second module maintains a knowledge base datastore with current fault data associated with the zone, and wherein the three-dimensional user interface provides fault data of the current faults associated with the zone.