System and method for providing virtual aircraft build process

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for displaying a plurality of aircraft states of an aircraft build process. A method includes storing a visual depiction of a plurality of aircraft states stacked on one another in a computer storage device. A plurality of build states of the aircraft represent different operating states of the aircraft over time. The user interface is configurable to display an aircraft build status occurring during an aircraft build process based on retrieving a particular build phase from the computer storage.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application with the application date of April 16, 2018, application number 201810340076.7, and invention title "Systems and Methods for Providing a Virtual Aircraft Build Process".

[0002] Cross - reference to Related Applications

[0003] This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 485,816, filed on April 14, 2017, and titled "Systems and Methods for Providing a Virtual Aircraft Build Process", the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0004] The technical field generally relates to aircraft build processes, and more particularly to providing a virtual environment of an aircraft build process to a user. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to the teachings provided herein, there are provided systems, methods, devices, and non - transitory computer - readable media for operating on one or more data - processing devices to display multiple aircraft states of an aircraft build process. The method and system include storing visual depictions of multiple aircraft states stacked on top of each other in a computer storage device. The multiple build states of the aircraft represent different operating states of the aircraft over time. The visual depictions are associated with operating - state data to indicate the operating phases associated with the visual depictions. One or more data processors are configured to provide a user interface for display to a user. The user interface is configurable to display the aircraft build states as layers corresponding to the chronological order of the aircraft states during the aircraft build process. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] Figure 1 A virtual aircraft created by photographing multiple build states of an aircraft is depicted;

[0007] Figure 2 A maintenance view is depicted;

[0008] Figure 3 An advanced test view is depicted;

[0009] Figure 4 A completed aircraft view is depicted;

[0010] Figure 5 A virtual aircraft formation flow chart is depicted; and

[0011] Figure 6 An example of a device is shown. Detailed implementation mode

[0012] Figure 1 Depicts a virtual aircraft made by photographing multiple construction states of an aircraft (e.g., a Gulfstream aircraft) at 100. Multiple photos of the aircraft are taken using a camera and a wide-angle lens. The photos are transmitted, then edited and any necessary adjustments are made. The photos are stitched together using a software program called PTGui from New House Internet Services BV in the Netherlands. PTGui is panoramic image stitching software for Windows and Mac OS X, used to form a fully spherical 360°×180° panorama. PTGui includes an interactive panorama viewer for viewing locally on a computer and embedding in a web page.

[0013] The photos are added to a software program called Panotour pro from Kolor / Gopro. In this program, layers, illustration numbers, and other interactive materials are formed, such as detailed views of access doors, APU, tail fins, and engines. The illustration numbers allow users to identify components on the aircraft, as shown at Figure 1 102 as "GCMS controller" in

[0014] The product is output and viewed by users (customers / Gulfstream employees) on a tablet or desktop browser. The virtual aircraft process, display, and user operations provide panoramic 360 images and 360-degree tours and obtain multiple states of the construction process by stacking them on top of each other, as shown at Figure 1 104 in

[0015] Figures 2-4 Shows the user going from a maintenance view to an advanced test view to a completed aircraft view. In this embodiment, the views are the same in each drawing, but are taken at different points during the construction process.

[0016] Figure 2 Depicts the maintenance view at 200. The maintenance view shows, for example, the structure, wiring, and components of the aircraft. The user can switch to other views by clicking on the small window shown at Figure 2 202 in

[0017] Figure 3 Depicts the advanced test view at 300. The advanced test view shows additional wiring and structure of the construction.

[0018] Figure 4 Depicts a completed aircraft view at 400. The completed aircraft view shows the aircraft with the interior fully in place.

[0019] Figure 5 Depicts a virtual aircraft formation flowchart at 500. The process shown in the flowchart starts by photographing the aircraft while it is being built. The process of taking pictures is as follows. Use a digital camera with a tripod and a panoramic head. An example of such a device is shown at 600 in Figure 6 ...

[0020] The camera is set at a height and location suitable for each aircraft and aircraft build state. In this embodiment, 8 - 10 photos are taken for each location. The number of locations to be photographed depends on the aircraft. The photos are transferred and editing begins.

[0021] For the maintenance view state, photos are taken showing the structure, wiring, and components of the aircraft. At a later time (e.g., a few weeks later), when the aircraft is in the advanced test state, the aircraft is photographed to obtain an advanced test view. The advanced test view shows additional wiring and structure of the build. When the aircraft build process is complete, a final aircraft view showing the aircraft with the interior fully in place is photographed. For each aircraft, the camera is set in the same position. It should be understood that other build states can also be obtained based on the conditions at hand.

[0022] After the photos have been taken, the photos are color - corrected, stitched, and edited. The photos are input into software called Panotour Pro by Kolor / GoPro and the process begins to build a virtual aircraft tour (VAT) at that point. Each photo is layered on top of the other to allow the user to view the aircraft in three defined build states from the same location. This brings the entire aircraft into the classroom or gives customers the ability to provide training, familiarization, and component location.

[0023] The virtual aircraft system is then published and uploaded to a server, and customers can view the aircraft on the server via a browser or other type of display.

[0024] Although at least one exemplary implementation has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that there are many variations. It should also be appreciated that the implementations are merely examples and are not intended to limit in any way the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient roadmap for implementing the exemplary implementations. It should be understood that various changes can be made to the functions and arrangements of the elements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

[0025] In addition, the data of the system and method (such as associations, mappings, data inputs, data outputs, intermediate data results, final data results, etc.) can be stored and implemented in one or more different types of computer-implemented data storage units, such as different types of storage devices (such as memories) and programming constructs (such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, flat files, databases, programming data structures, programming variables, IF-THEN (or similar types) statement constructs, etc.). Note that a data structure describes the format used when organizing and storing data in a database, program, memory, or other computer-readable medium used by a computer program.

[0026] In addition, the system and method can be provided on many different types of computer-readable storage media, including computer storage mechanisms (such as non-transitory media, such as CD-ROMs, disks, RAM, flash memory, a computer's hard drive, etc.) that contain instructions (such as software) for being executed by a processor to perform the operations of the method and implement the system described herein.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying multiple aircraft construction states of an aircraft construction process, the method comprising: Storing visual depictions of the multiple aircraft construction states that are stacked on top of each other during the aircraft construction process in a computer storage device; Wherein the multiple aircraft construction states of the aircraft represent different operating states of the aircraft over time during the aircraft construction process; Wherein the visual depictions are associated with operating state data to indicate the operating phases associated with the visual depictions of the multiple aircraft construction states, wherein the operating phases include a maintenance phase, a testing phase, and a completed aircraft phase; And Providing, by one or more data processors, a user interface for display to a user; wherein the user interface is configurable to display the multiple aircraft construction states as layers corresponding to the chronological order of each aircraft state among the multiple aircraft construction states during the aircraft construction process, wherein the layers are composed of photographs of each of the aircraft states; wherein the camera is set at the same position for each aircraft among all aircraft construction states; Operating the user interface by the user to switch from displaying a visual photograph depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the maintenance phase to displaying a visual photograph depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the testing phase; Operating the user interface by the user to switch from displaying a visual photograph depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the testing phase to displaying a visual photograph depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the completed aircraft phase; And Operating the user interface to switch from displaying a visual photograph depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the completed aircraft phase to displaying a visual photograph depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the test aircraft phase; Wherein the views of the aircraft states include a maintenance view, a testing view, and a completed aircraft view; Wherein the maintenance view depicts the structure, wiring, and components of the aircraft; wherein the testing view depicts additional wiring and structure of the build; wherein the completed aircraft view depicts the interior of the aircraft, wherein all or substantially all of the interior is in place; Wherein the photographs are stitched together to form a panoramic 360-degree view of the aircraft state.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein regions of the visual depictions are associated with illustration numbers to provide information about aircraft components for a specific aircraft state.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is configurable to display the multiple aircraft construction states in chronological order for viewing by a user learning to construct an aircraft.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is configurable to display the multiple aircraft construction states in an order requested by user input.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is displayed on a tablet or a desktop browser.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a computer database stores an association between the visual depiction and the operational status data.

7. A system for displaying multiple aircraft build states of an aircraft build process, the system comprising: at least one processor; and a non-transitory computer storage device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to: store in the non-transitory computer storage device visual depictions of the multiple aircraft build states that are stacked on top of each other during the aircraft build process; wherein the multiple aircraft build states of the aircraft represent different operational states of the aircraft over time during the aircraft build process; wherein the visual depictions are associated with operational status data to indicate an operational phase associated with the visual depictions of the multiple aircraft build states, wherein the operational phase includes a maintenance phase, a test phase, and a completed aircraft phase; and a user interface provided by one or more data processors for display to a user; wherein the user interface displays the multiple aircraft build states as layers corresponding to the chronological order of each aircraft state during the aircraft build process; operating the user interface by the user to switch from displaying a visual photo depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the maintenance phase to displaying a visual photo depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the test phase; operating the user interface by the user to switch from displaying a visual photo depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the test phase to displaying a visual photo depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the completed aircraft phase; and operating the user interface to switch from displaying a visual photo depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the completed aircraft phase to displaying a visual photo depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the test aircraft phase; wherein the views of the aircraft state include a maintenance view, a test view, and a completed aircraft view; wherein the maintenance view depicts the structure, wiring, and components of the aircraft; wherein the test view depicts additional wiring and structure of the build; wherein the completed aircraft view depicts the interior of the aircraft, where all or substantially all of the interior is in place; wherein the photos are stitched together to form a panoramic 360-degree view of the aircraft state.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the layers are composed of photos of each of the aircraft states; wherein the camera is set at the same position for each aircraft in all aircraft build states.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein regions of the visual depictions are associated with illustration numbers to provide information about aircraft components for a particular aircraft state.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the user interface is configurable to display the multiple aircraft build states in chronological order for viewing by a user learning to build an aircraft.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the user interface is configurable to display the plurality of aircraft build states in an order requested by a user input.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the user interface is displayed on a tablet computer or a desktop browser; wherein a computer database stores an association between the visual depictions and the operational status data.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions for displaying a plurality of aircraft build states of an aircraft build process, the computer instructions being configurable to be executed by a hardware processor to: store visual depictions of the plurality of aircraft build states that are stacked on top of each other during the aircraft build process in a computer storage device; wherein the plurality of aircraft build states of the aircraft represent different operational states of the aircraft over time during the aircraft build process; wherein the visual depictions are associated with operational status data to indicate an operational phase associated with the visual depictions of the plurality of aircraft build states, wherein the operational phase includes a maintenance phase, a test phase, and a completed aircraft phase; and provide, via one or more data processors, a user interface for display to a user; wherein the user interface is configurable to display the plurality of aircraft build states as layers corresponding to a chronological order of each aircraft state among the plurality of aircraft build states during the aircraft build process; operate the user interface by the user to switch from displaying a visual photographic depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the maintenance phase to displaying a visual photographic depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the test phase; operate the user interface by the user to switch from displaying a visual photographic depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the test phase to displaying a visual photographic depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the completed aircraft phase; and operate the user interface to switch from displaying a visual photographic depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the completed aircraft phase to displaying a visual photographic depiction of substantially the entire interior of the aircraft in the test aircraft phase; wherein the views of the aircraft states include a maintenance view, a test view, and a completed aircraft view; wherein the maintenance view depicts the structure, wiring, and components of the aircraft; wherein the test view depicts additional wiring and structure of the build; wherein the completed aircraft view depicts the interior of the aircraft, where all or substantially all of the interior is in place; wherein the photos are stitched together to form a panoramic 360-degree view of the aircraft state.

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