Systems and methods for determining sizes and shapes of geodesic modules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9965582-B2
Application number	US-201514840802-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Priority date	Aug 31, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A system and method determine a size and a shape for identical geodesic modules that are used to form a structure. The system and method may include analyzing input data regarding a size and a shape of the structure to be formed, and determining the size and the shape for each of the identical geodesic modules based on the size and the shape of the structure to be formed. The structure may include a framework including the identical geodesic modules. Each of the geodesic modules has a size and a shape that are the same as all of the other of the geodesic modules. A forming system and method position a framework and a covering skin of the structure in relation to a mandrel, and drill and rivet the framework to the covering skin with a plurality of operating heads.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A geodesic module determination system configured to determine a size and a shape for a plurality of identical geodesic modules that are used to form a structure, the geodesic module determination system comprising:
a control unit that executes a set of instructions stored in at least one memory to analyze input data regarding a size and a shape of the structure to be formed, and determine the size and the shape for each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules based on the size and the shape of the structure to be formed,
wherein the control unit executes the set of instructions stored in the at least one memory to account for one or more features to be formed on or in the structure, and determine the size and the shape for each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules based on the size and the shape of the structure to be formed and the one or more features to be formed on or in the structure.

2. The geodesic module determination system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more features comprises one or more windows to be formed in the structure.

3. The geodesic module determination system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit executes the set of instructions stored in the at least one memory to generate a plurality of seed nodes on opposed end circles, generate mirror image geodesic curves between corresponding pairs of the seed nodes of the opposed end circles, and determine the size and shape for each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules based on the geodesic curves and intersections between the geodesic curves.

4. The geodesic module determination system of claim 3 , wherein the control unit executes the set of instructions stored in the at least one memory to generate the plurality of seed nodes based, at least in part, on a size and number of features to be formed on or in the structure and a predetermined structural integrity of the structure.

5. The geodesic module determination system of claim 3 , wherein the control unit executes the set of instructions stored in the at least one memory to determine a location of at least one of the plurality of seed nodes using an offset angle and a spread angle, wherein the offset angle provides a radial angle with respect to a waterline zero plane, and wherein the spread angle is a constant angle between neighboring seed nodes.

6. The geodesic module determination system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the at least one memory coupled to the control unit;
a user interface coupled to the control unit, wherein the user interface is configured to allow an individual to enter the input data; and
a display.

7. The geodesic module determination system of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a framework for a constant section.

8. The geodesic module determination system of claim 7 , wherein the constant section comprises a constant curvature and constant cross-sectional radius between opposed circular ends.

9. The geodesic module determination system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules comprises a plurality of interconnected frame segments that are identical in size and shape.

10. A method of determining a size and a shape for a plurality of identical geodesic modules that are used to form a structure, the method comprising:
analyzing input data regarding a size and a shape of the structure to be formed;
determining the size and the shape for each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules based on the size and the shape of the structure to be formed;
accounting for one or more features to be formed on or in the structure; and
determining the size and the shape for each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules based on the size and the shape of the structure to be formed and the one or more features to be formed on or in the structure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more features comprises one or more windows to be formed in the structure.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining the size and the shape for each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules comprises:
generating a plurality of seed nodes on opposed end circles;
generating mirror image geodesic curves between corresponding pairs of the seed nodes of the opposed end circles, and
determining the size and shape for each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules based on the geodesic curves and intersections between the geodesic curves.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the generating the plurality of seed nodes comprises accounting for a size and number of features to be formed on or in the structure and a predetermined structural integrity of the structure.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating the plurality of seed nodes comprises determining a location of at least one of the plurality of seed nodes using an offset angle and a spread angle, wherein the offset angle provides a radial angle with respect to a waterline zero plane, and wherein the spread angle is a constant angle between neighboring seed nodes.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the structure comprises a framework for a constant section.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the constant section comprises a constant curvature and constant cross-sectional radius between opposed circular ends.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules comprises a plurality of interconnected frame segments that are identical in size and shape.

18. A geodesic module determination system configured to determine a size and a shape for a plurality of identical geodesic modules that are used to form a structure, the geodesic module determination system comprising:
a control unit that executes a set of instructions stored in at least one memory to analyze input data regarding a size and a shape of the structure to be formed, and determine the size and the shape for each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules based on the size and the shape of the structure to be formed,
wherein the control unit executes the set of instructions stored in the at least one memory to generate a plurality of seed nodes on opposed end circles, generate mirror image geodesic curves between corresponding pairs of the seed nodes of the opposed end circles, and determine the size and shape for each of the plurality of identical geodesic modules based on the geodesic curves and intersections between the geodesic curves.

19. The geodesic module determination system of claim 18 , wherein the control unit executes the set of instructions stored in the at least one memory to generate the plurality of seed nodes based, at least in part, on a size and number of features to be formed on or in the structure and a predetermined structural integrity of the structure.

20. The geodesic module determination system of claim 18 , wherein the control unit executes the set of instructions stored in the at least one memory to determine a location of at least one of the plurality of seed nodes using an offset angle and a spread angle, wherein the offset angle provides a radial angle with respect to a waterline zero plane, and wherein the spread angle is a constant angle between neighboring seed nodes.

21. A method of determining a size and a shape for a plurality of identical geodesic modules that are used to form a structure, the method comprising:
analyzing input data regarding a size and a shape of the structure to be formed; and
determining the size and the shape for each of the plurality of id

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Golshany Sina
• Ahn Junghyun
• Alderks Derek
• Erickson Todd William

Classifications

• G06F30/15 Primary

  Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design · CPC title

• G06F30/00

  Computer-aided design [CAD] · CPC title

• G06F17/5095 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F17/50

  Physics · mapped topic