Methods and systems for performing maintenance on an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11354948-B2
Application number	US-201916435673-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2019
Priority date	Jun 10, 2019
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

An example method of performing maintenance on an aircraft includes receiving a vehicle data-signature-map of an interior of an aircraft for at least one parameter of the aircraft, and the vehicle data-signature-map is based on sensor outputs received from sensors of mobile devices positioned at locations in the interior of the aircraft. The method also includes comparing the vehicle data-signature-map with a previous vehicle data-signature-map, based on differences of the vehicle data-signature-map as compared to the previous vehicle data-signature-map making a determination for maintenance, and generating and outputting a recommendation for inspection of an identified portion of the aircraft based on the distribution of the at least one parameter in the vehicle data-signature-map for the identified portion of the aircraft being substantially different than the distribution of the at least one parameter in the vehicle data-signature-map for other portions of the aircraft to assist with the maintenance of the aircraft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of performing maintenance on an aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving, at a computing device, a vehicle data-signature-map of an interior of an aircraft for at least one parameter of the aircraft, wherein the vehicle data-signature-map is based on sensor outputs for the at least one parameter obtained during flight of the aircraft and received from sensors of mobile devices positioned at locations in the interior of a fuselage of the aircraft, and wherein the vehicle data-signature-map is a graphical representation indicative of a distribution of the at least one parameter at the locations within the interior of the fuselage of the aircraft;
comparing the vehicle data-signature-map with a previous vehicle data-signature-map of the aircraft;
based on differences of the vehicle data-signature-map as compared to the previous vehicle data-signature-map, making a determination for maintenance of a seat in the fuselage of the aircraft; and
generating and outputting, by the computing device, a recommendation for inspection of an identified portion of the aircraft including the seat in the fuselage based on the distribution of the at least one parameter in the vehicle data-signature-map for the identified portion of the aircraft being substantially different than the distribution of the at least one parameter in the vehicle data-signature-map for other portions of the aircraft to assist with the maintenance of the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing the vehicle data-signature-map with vehicle data-signature-maps of different aircraft from a fleet of the aircraft, wherein the fleet of the aircraft are a same type of aircraft as the aircraft; and
wherein making the determination for maintenance of the aircraft further comprises, based on differences of the vehicle data-signature-map as compared to the vehicle data-signature-maps of different aircraft from the fleet of the aircraft, making the determination for maintenance of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a fault code from an aircraft sensor system indicative of a possible operational error of multiple components of the aircraft; and
wherein generating the recommendation for inspection of the identified portion of the aircraft comprises utilizing the vehicle data-signature-map to identify a component from among the multiple components of the aircraft that is most likely causing the fault code.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter of the aircraft is indicative of turbulence of the aircraft during the flight and wherein the vehicle data-signature-map indicates a distribution of vibration of the aircraft, and the method further comprises:
determining the identified portion of the aircraft as an area of the aircraft having a vibration parameter being substantially different than distribution of the vibration parameter in the vehicle data-signature-map for other portions of the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle data-signature-map is indicative of the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft over time during the flight of the aircraft, and the method further comprises:
associating weather information for the flight of the aircraft over the time during the flight of the aircraft with the vehicle data-signature-map;
verifying whether the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft on the vehicle data-signature-map complies with the weather information for the flight; and
based on the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft on the vehicle data-signature-map not complying with the weather information for the flight, generating and outputting the recommendation for inspection of the identified portion of the aircraft.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle data-signature-map is indicative of the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft over time during the flight of the aircraft, and the method further comprises:
associating geographic location information for the flight of the aircraft over the time during the flight of the aircraft with the vehicle data-signature-map;
verifying whether the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft on the vehicle data-signature-map complies with the geographic location information for the flight; and
based on the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft on the vehicle data-signature-map not complying with the geographic location information for the flight, generating and outputting the recommendation for inspection of the identified portion of the aircraft.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle data-signature-map is indicative of the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft over time during the flight of the aircraft, and the method further comprises:
associating a flight plan for the flight of the aircraft over the time during the flight of the aircraft with the vehicle data-signature-map;
verifying whether the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft on the vehicle data-signature-map complies with the flight plan for the flight; and
based on the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft on the vehicle data-signature-map not complying with the flight plan for the flight, generating and outputting the recommendation for inspection of the identified portion of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the vehicle data-signature-map comprises receiving the vehicle data-signature-map in real time during the flight of the aircraft, and the method further comprising:
based on the differences of the vehicle data-signature-map as compared to the previous vehicle data-signature-map, identifying an anomaly of the flight; and
adjusting an operational parameter of an engine of the aircraft to modify the flight of the aircraft based on identifying the anomaly of the flight.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the vehicle data-signature-map comprises receiving the vehicle data-signature-map in real time during the flight of the aircraft, and the method further comprising:
based on the differences of the vehicle data-signature-map as compared to the previous vehicle data-signature-map, identifying an anomaly of the flight; and
adjusting an operational parameter of the aircraft to modify the flight of the aircraft based on identifying the anomaly of the flight.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the vehicle data-signature-map comprises receiving the vehicle data-signature-map in real time during the flight of the aircraft, and the method further comprising:
based on the differences of the vehicle data-signature-map as compared to the previous vehicle data-signature-map, identifying an anomaly of the flight; and
adjusting, during the flight, the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft based on identifying the anomaly of the flight.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle data-signature-map is indicative of the distribution of the at least one parameter within the interior of the aircraft over time during the flight of the aircraft, and the method further comprises:
associating a flight plan and waypoints flown for the flight of the aircraft over the time during the flight of the aircraft with the vehicle data-signature-map;
based on the differences of the vehicle data-signature-map as compared to the previous vehicle data-signature-map, identifying an anoma

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Glatfelter John W
• Laughlin Brian D
• Kelsey William D

Classifications

• H04W84/18

  Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks · CPC title

• G07C5/10

  using counting means or digital clocks · CPC title

• G07C5/0841

  Registering performance data (recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B) · CPC title

• G07C5/02

  Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only (apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00) · CPC title

• H04W64/00

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title