An information system and method for realizing agile aircraft modification design

Abstract

This invention belongs to the fields of technical status management and informatization, specifically an information system and method for implementing agile aircraft retrofit design. The system comprises six components: a general product data management module, a multi-aircraft model data management module based on a single data source, a product configuration extraction module based on flight effectiveness, a draft design environment module, a design scheme planning and data organization module, and a top-down aircraft configuration configuration module. The information system and method proposed in this invention are an efficient, low-cost configuration management solution for aircraft serial retrofits. It utilizes a single data source architecture to maximize data reuse; constructs an online collaborative design environment for improvements and retrofits; and establishes a top-down configuration configuration method to simplify the drawing modification process. Through a series of methods, agile design is achieved with greater speed, lower costs, and higher quality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of technical status management and informatization, and specifically relates to an informatization system for realizing agile modification design of aircraft and a method for using the same. Background Art

[0002] Aircraft development is a serialized development of multiple models of one aircraft, and the capabilities of one aircraft are also generated gradually. The modification and improvement of aircraft is an important scientific research task undertaken by the host institute in the long term.

[0003] However, traditional aircraft modifications are managed as independent models. Schematic, preliminary, and detailed designs are completed within a collaborative tool environment before being transferred to a product data management system for data release and subsequent technical status change control. These modification design tools and methods present numerous challenges. First, there is a significant amount of duplicate digital model release and manual check-in. Second, multiple sets of coding for independent models lead to duplication of process tooling, increasing manufacturing costs. Third, separate management increases modification workload, and ensuring consistent modification status requires complex manual processing, which is inefficient and increases development costs.

[0004] Another approach, exploring improvements to the traditional approach, involves designing the new model on decentralized local computers. After coordinating and confirming the design results, the design data for the new model is released by modifying each component individually. Major aircraft upgrades also require schematic and preliminary design. However, this approach lacks the benefits of real-time online collaborative tools, forcing designers to work independently on their local computers. Furthermore, the sheer volume of changes and lengthy process make it difficult to ensure design quality and efficiency.

[0005] The information system and method proposed in this invention is an efficient and low-cost configuration management solution for aircraft serialization modifications. It adopts a single data source architecture to maximize data reuse; builds an online collaborative design environment for improvements and modifications; and establishes a top-down configuration configuration method to simplify the drawing modification process. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to establish a set of efficient and low-cost agile design methods for large aircraft equipment with high system complexity, so as to solve the cost, quality and efficiency problems existing in the traditional aircraft modification and development methods.

[0007] Technical Solution

[0008] An information system for realizing agile aircraft retrofit design consists of six components: a general product data management module, a multi-aircraft model data management module based on a single data source, a product configuration extraction module based on flight effectiveness, a draft design environment module, a design scheme planning and data organization module, and a top-down aircraft configuration module.

[0009] The general product data management module is responsible for product data storage and change control, and provides basic data for the multi-aircraft data management module based on a single data source; the multi-aircraft data management module based on a single data source adds flight validity attributes to the basic data and preliminarily divides the flight number segments to correspond to different aircraft models; the product configuration extraction module based on flight validity extracts the aircraft's product data through precise flights, which is used by the draft design environment module to carry out collaborative design; the design data generated by the draft design environment module can be organized by the design scheme planning and data organization module to form an associated data group based on a certain matter, so that designers can carry out collaborative design faster and more accurately; the top-down aircraft configuration module formally releases the draft design data generated by the product configuration extraction module based on flight validity and the draft design environment module to the general product data management module through engineering changes.

[0010] Furthermore, the multi-model data management module based on a single data source selects aircraft flights to manage the validity of product data and distinguishes different models by flight segments;

[0011] Furthermore, the product configuration extraction module based on flight validity automatically extracts all the configuration data of an aircraft by searching the aircraft flight number;

[0012] Furthermore, the draft design environment module: in the frozen product data management system, the batch segments not used for manufacturing are selected as the draft design environment, which is permanently unfrozen and opened to designers for free design;

[0013] Furthermore, the draft design environment module copies all the data of the original aircraft into the draft environment for the new modified aircraft, which serves as the basic draft for the modified design;

[0014] Furthermore, the design plan planning and data organization module: establishes an event management module. By creating a design event item, all relevant design data are linked together. Relevant participants can see the design status of each party in real time, facilitating compatibility checks from the early stages of the design process.

[0015] Further, top-down aircraft configuration module:

[0016] Establish a top-level change model, and use the top-level system node of the aircraft product structure as the change object in the engineering change order. All data modules that need to be changed in the system will be changed at one time to shorten the resource occupation of the change process and ensure the matching of the changes.

[0017] A method for using an information system for realizing agile aircraft modification design includes the following five steps:

[0018] Step 1: Build a data management module based on a single data source, and centrally manage all the data of the serialized models in a unique product database;

[0019] Step 2: Define flight validity in the basic design module, segment flights to distinguish different aircraft types and states, and filter different aircraft by flight;

[0020] Step 3: To ensure a collaborative design environment even during retrofits, select flight number segments not used for production delivery from the frozen aircraft database and make them available for draft design. This allows for real-time sharing of design results. The information platform then creates draft configurations in batches, copying the latest state of the original aircraft as the starting point. This ensures data redundancy through association.

[0021] Finally, a status monitoring mechanism is established to notify the draft configuration of the modified aircraft of changes to the original aircraft in real time;

[0022] Step 4: Establish an online tool for organizing design changes. By creating coordination events, all relevant data in the design process are linked together, allowing real-time visibility into the latest design status. Subsequent change orders are linked to form reports that explicitly record the number of modules, disciplines, and changes involved in a function.

[0023] After completing the draft design in step 5, according to the changes in product data, change / edit the aircraft's product structure by taking the top-level system as the change object, batch configure the departure nodes, and then hang the designed bottom-level modules under the corresponding nodes, and submit the data for review and approval.

[0024] Technical Effects

[0025] This invention combines the two separate tools used in traditional retrofit design into one system and achieves agile design with faster speed, lower cost and higher quality through a series of methods. The specific effects are:

[0026] 1) For aircraft serialization modification, the unification of design quality, cost and efficiency is achieved:

[0027] a) Strengthened design collaboration, reduced design defects and rework, and improved design quality;

[0028] b) Maximized reuse of mature data, saving development costs;

[0029] c) The change and data release processes were merged to improve efficiency and shorten the development cycle.

[0030] 2) Third, it promoted the integration of research and development between aircraft design institutes and manufacturers, increasing efficiency, reducing burdens, and improving quality across the entire R&D process for both parties, eliminating unnecessary waste caused by the separation of factories and institutes;

[0031] 3) A set of configuration management technologies with distinct "agile" characteristics has been formed, which has been promoted within the unit to the modification work of multiple aircraft series, and can be subsequently applied to the modification research and development of other large and complex equipment systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 Product data structure diagram shared by the two aircraft types;

[0033] Figure 2 Diagram of the relationship between the draft design environment and aircraft data;

[0034] Figure 3 The composition and data relationship diagram of the information system for realizing agile aircraft modification design. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0036] The agile design drawing method is implemented through the following five steps:

[0037] Build a product data structure to manage serialized models:

[0038] In the general product data management module, the serialized aircraft A and aircraft B share the same product data structure and related data, and the two aircraft are distinguished by flight segmentation. The aircraft "0001-5000" are defined as aircraft A, and the aircraft "5001-9000" are aircraft B. Figure 1 shown.

[0039] The configuration management method for serialized aircraft product data is as follows:

[0040] If the product data is applied to both aircraft A and B and the status is the same, the data has only one configuration and the validity is "0001-9000";

[0041] If product data is applied to both aircraft types A and B, but their status are different, use different product data configurations (corresponding to different flight validity) to distinguish the status;

[0042] If the product data is only used for Type A aircraft, the validity set of all configurations of the product data is "0001-5000";

[0043] If the product data is only used for B-type aircraft, the validity set of all versions of the product data is "5001-9000" (product data can have multiple configurations).

[0044] Set up the draft design environment:

[0045] Set up a draft environment in the general product data management module:

[0046] Create a draft configuration for all existing data configurations based on the original product data structure of aircraft type A, set the validity to 9900, and associate the data configuration containing the latest status of aircraft type A;

[0047] Set the data status of the draft configuration to "Draft" and permanently open editing permissions to the product data owner;

[0048] After the draft environment is built, open the relevant data by 9900 aircraft in the general product data management module to obtain the draft design environment containing the latest status of type A aircraft, which is used to carry out collaborative design of type B aircraft. Figure 2 .

[0049] Conduct draft collaborative design:

[0050] Aircraft system designers conduct collaborative design in a draft environment, including four scenarios:

[0051] In scenario 1, if the data configuration is applied to both aircraft A and B and their status is consistent, the association between the draft configuration and the original data configuration is maintained, and no operation is required during the collaborative design process.

[0052] Scenario 2: If the data configuration is applied to both aircraft A and B, but the status of aircraft B is different from that of aircraft A:

[0053] 1) Disconnect the draft configuration from the Type A aircraft data in the general product data management module;

[0054] 2) Open the draft configuration in the general product data management module and insert the new design data to complete the collaborative design;

[0055] Scenario 3: If the data configuration is only used for aircraft type A, disconnect the data from aircraft type A in the general product data management module.

[0056] Scenario 4: If you need to create a data configuration only for Type B aircraft, create it directly and set the validity to "5001-9000";

[0057] Planning and management of collaborative design events

[0058] Use the design plan planning and data organization module to assist the overall aircraft professional in design coordination:

[0059] The person in charge of the aircraft section creates coordination events in the collaboration to associate the draft data configuration required for design coordination. Based on the events, the person in charge of the aircraft section batch loads the relevant digital models into the general product data management module to organize the coordination of the overall design plan.

[0060] The relevant participants of the coordination event can also batch load relevant digital models according to the coordination event in the general product data management module, and view the latest status of other related design parties in real time as a reference for collaborative design.

[0061] Review and issue design data for modified aircraft

[0062] After completing the collaborative design in the draft environment, configure the drawing distribution node through engineering changes, and finally submit the designed draft drawings / digital models for review and distribution.

[0063] It is necessary to modify the top-level configuration of the product data structure of type A aircraft to generate the design drawing data node used by type B aircraft. There are four scenarios:

[0064] Scenario 1: If the data configuration is applied to both aircraft A and B and their status is consistent, there is no need to adjust the product data structure;

[0065] Scenario 2: If the data configuration is applied to both aircraft A and B, but the status of aircraft B is different from that of aircraft A:

[0066] The validity limit of data configuration applicable to Type A aircraft needs to be adjusted to "5000";

[0067] Added data configuration applicable to B-type aircraft, the validity should be "5001-9000";

[0068] Scenario 3: If the data configuration is only used for Type A aircraft, the validity limit of the data configuration needs to be adjusted to "5000";

[0069] Scenario 4: This data configuration is only used for Type B aircraft. When adding a new data item, the validity must be set to "5001-9000".

[0070] When initiating an engineering change, the aircraft system is used as a unit to adjust the aircraft product data structure:

[0071] Initiate a top-level change on the top level of the aircraft, taking the system node as the change object;

[0072] The change order shall list the data configuration and the addition, deletion and modification of the configuration in a table format, and shall at least include the data configuration number, data configuration name, person in charge, validity before modification and validity after modification;

[0073] Allows different configurations of data configurations to set different responsible persons.

[0074] After obtaining the design data node of the Type B aircraft through the change process, the person in charge of each data configuration will associate the draft configuration designed in the previous process as a whole to the data node of the Type B aircraft and submit the data for review and approval.

[0075] The above description is merely a detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention. Any unspecified portions are conventional techniques. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be readily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An information system for realizing agile aircraft modification design, characterized in that: It includes six components: general product data management module, multi-aircraft model data management module based on a single data source, product configuration extraction module based on flight effectiveness, draft design environment module, design scheme planning and data organization module, and top-down aircraft configuration module. The general product data management module is responsible for product data storage and change control, and provides basic data for the multi-model data management module based on a single data source; The multi-model data management module, based on a single data source, adds flight validity attributes to basic data and initially divides flight number segments into corresponding aircraft models. The product configuration extraction module, based on flight validity, extracts aircraft product data using precise flight numbers for collaborative design in the draft design environment module. The design data generated by the Draft Design Environment module can be organized by the Design Scheme Planning and Data Organization module to form a related data group based on a specific issue, allowing designers to conduct collaborative design more quickly and accurately. The top-down Aircraft Configuration Module formally releases the draft design data generated by the Product Configuration Extraction Module based on flight effectiveness and the Draft Design Environment Module to the General Product Data Management Module through engineering changes. Draft design environment module: In the frozen product data management system, select the batch segment not used for manufacturing as the draft design environment, permanently unfreeze it and open it to designers for free design; Top-down aircraft configuration module; establish a top-level change model, use the top-level system node of the aircraft product structure as the change object in the engineering change order, and change all the data modules that need to be changed in the system at one time to shorten the resource occupation of the change process and ensure the matching of the changes.

2. The information system for realizing agile aircraft modification design according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multi-model data management module based on a single data source selects aircraft flights to manage the validity of product data and distinguishes different models by flight segments.

3. The information system for realizing agile aircraft modification design according to claim 1, characterized in that: The product configuration extraction module based on flight validity automatically extracts all the configuration data of an aircraft by retrieving the aircraft flight.

4. The information system for realizing agile aircraft modification design according to claim 1, characterized in that: The draft design environment module copies all the data of the original aircraft to the draft environment for the new modified aircraft as the basic draft of the modified design.

5. The information system for realizing agile aircraft modification design according to claim 1, characterized in that: Design plan planning and data organization module: Establish an event management module to connect all relevant design data by creating a design event item. Relevant participants can see the design status of each party in real time, facilitating compatibility checks from the early stages of design.

6. A method for using an information system for realizing agile aircraft modification design, characterized in that: It includes the following five steps: Step 1: Build a data management module based on a single data source, and centrally manage all the data of the serialized models in a unique product database; Step 2: Define flight validity in the basic design module, segment flights to distinguish different aircraft types and states, and filter different aircraft by flight; Step 3: To ensure a collaborative design environment even during retrofits, select flight number segments not used for production delivery from the frozen aircraft database and make them available for draft design. This allows for real-time sharing of design results. The information platform then creates draft configurations in batches, copying the latest state of the original aircraft as the starting point. This ensures data redundancy through association. Finally, a status monitoring mechanism is established to notify the draft configuration of the modified aircraft of changes to the original aircraft in real time; Step 4: Establish an online tool for organizing design changes. By creating coordination events, all relevant data in the design process are linked together, allowing real-time visibility into the latest design status. Subsequent change orders are linked to form reports that explicitly record the number of modules, disciplines, and changes involved in a function. After completing the draft design in step 5, according to the changes in product data, change / edit the aircraft's product structure by taking the top-level system as the change object, batch configure the departure nodes, and then hang the designed bottom-level modules under the corresponding nodes, and submit the data for review and approval.

Images