Vehicle wash assessment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10521981-B2
Application number	US-201715614658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2017
Priority date	Jun 6, 2017
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

One example aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for scheduling a vehicle wash. The method can include receiving, at one or more computing devices, data indicative of an actual performance efficiency factor, wherein the data is collected from one or more sensors. The method can include determining, at the one or more computing devices, an expected performance efficiency factor based on a model. The method can include performing, at the one or more computing devices, a comparison of the actual performance efficiency factor with the expected performance efficiency factor. The method can include scheduling, at the one or more computing devices, the vehicle wash based on the comparison.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for scheduling a vehicle wash comprising:
receiving, at one or more computing devices, data indicative of an actual performance efficiency factor, wherein the data is collected from one or more sensors;
determining, at the one or more computing devices, an expected performance efficiency factor based on a model;
performing, at the one or more computing devices, a comparison of the actual performance efficiency factor with the expected performance efficiency factor;
monitoring, at the one or more computing devices, a plurality of differences between a detected performance efficiency factor and the expected performance efficiency factor;
determining, at the one or more computing devices, a rate of change of the monitored plurality of differences over time;
determining, at the one or more computing devices, that the determined rate of change is above a threshold;
initiating, at the one or more computing devices, a control procedure or transmitting, at the one or more computing devices, an alert in response to determining that the determined rate of change is above the threshold; and
scheduling, at the one or more computing devices, the vehicle wash based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein scheduling, at the one or more computing devices, the vehicle wash based on the comparison further comprises scheduling, at the one or more computing devices, a vehicle wash interval based on the comparison.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more computing devices comprises a flight management system (FMS).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more computing devices comprises a computing device associated with a ground system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, at one or more computing devices, data indicative of an actual performance efficiency factor further comprises:
receiving, at the one or more computing devices, at least one signal related to a thrust force; and
determining, at the one or more computing devices, the actual performance efficiency factor based on the signal.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the model outputs the expected performance efficiency factor based on historical data.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, at the one or more computing devices, that the determined rate of change is at or below a gradual threshold; and
transmitting, at the one or more computing devices, a notification indicating that the vehicle is dirty.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, at the one or more computing devices, that the determined rate of change is above the threshold comprises determining, at the one or more computing devices, that the determined rate of change is above a gradual threshold and at or below a moderate threshold; and wherein initiating, at the one or more computing devices, the control procedure or transmitting, at the one or more computing devices, the alert comprises initiating, at the one or more computing devices, an ice control procedure.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, at the one or more computing devices, that the determined rate of change is above the threshold comprises determining, at the one or more computing devices, that the determined rate of change is above a moderate threshold; and wherein initiating, at the one or more computing devices, the control procedure or transmitting, at the one or more computing devices, the alert comprises transmitting, at the one or more computing devices, an alert indicating a possible bird strike or a possible dent in the vehicle.

10. A system for scheduling a vehicle wash comprising:
a memory device; and
one or more processors configured to:
monitor a plurality of differences between a detected performance efficiency factor and an expected performance efficiency factor;
determine a rate of change of the monitored plurality of differences over time;
compare the determined rate of change with a gradual threshold and a moderate threshold;
when the determined rate of change is below the gradual threshold, transmit a notification indicating that the vehicle is dirty;
when the determined rate of change is at or above the gradual threshold and below the moderate threshold, initiate an ice control procedure; and
when the determined rate of change is at or above the moderate threshold, transmit an alert indicating a possible bird strike or a possible dent in the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the one or more processors comprises a flight management system (FMS).

12. An aerial vehicle comprising:
a memory device; and
one or more computing devices configured to:
receive data indicative of an actual performance efficiency factor, wherein the data is collected from one or more sensors;
determine an expected performance efficiency factor based on a model;
perform a comparison of the actual performance efficiency factor with the expected performance efficiency factor;
monitor a plurality of differences between a detected performance efficiency factor and the expected performance efficiency factor;
determine a rate of change of the monitored plurality of differences over time;
determine that the determined rate of change is above a threshold;
initiate a control procedure or transmit an alert in response to determining that the determined rate of change is above the threshold; and
schedule the vehicle wash based on the comparison.

13. The aerial vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to schedule a vehicle wash interval based on the comparison.

14. The aerial vehicle of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more computing devices comprises a flight management system (FMS).

15. The aerial vehicle of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more computing devices comprises a computing device associated with a ground system.

16. The aerial vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:
receive at least one signal related to a thrust force; and
determine the actual performance efficiency factor based on the signal.

17. The aerial vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the model outputs the expected performance efficiency factor based on historical data.

18. The aerial vehicle of claim 12 , wherein in determining
that the determined rate of change is above the threshold the one or more computing devices is configured to determine that the determined rate of change is at or below a gradual threshold; and wherein in initiating the control procedure or transmitting the alert the one or more computing devices is configured to transmit a notification indicating that the vehicle is dirty.

Assignees

• Ge Aviation Systems Llc

Inventors

• Bult Jeffrey Russell
• Darnell Mark Lawrence
• Lax David Michael

Classifications

• G07C5/006

  Indicating maintenance · CPC title

• B64F5/30

  Cleaning aircraft · CPC title

• G07C5/0816

  Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction · CPC title

• G07C5/008

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• B64D2045/0085

  Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration · CPC title