A platform for generating a modular solution for aircraft maintenance and support tools

Abstract

This application belongs to the field of aircraft maintenance and support technology, and specifically relates to a platform for generating aircraft maintenance and support tool kitting schemes. The platform includes an application terminal and a management terminal. The application terminal includes: an aircraft maintenance and support tool list input module for importing an external list of aircraft maintenance and support tools; and a tool kitting scheme output module for calling a tool kitting intelligent algorithm module to generate kitting schemes and output the tool kitting schemes and kitting lists. The management terminal includes: a tool library construction module for building a tool and toolbox database; a tool kitting intelligent algorithm module for calling data from the tool and toolbox database based on tool information in the tool list, and generating tool kitting schemes according to preset kitting principles and constraints; and a template management module for managing and customizing output templates for tool kitting schemes. This application achieves intelligent and automated tool kitting, significantly improving kitting efficiency and accuracy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of aircraft maintenance and support technology, and specifically relates to a platform for generating a modular solution for aircraft maintenance and support tools. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of aviation maintenance support, tools are fundamental to various maintenance, inspection, and repair tasks. To ensure efficient and orderly maintenance work, a complete set of dedicated support tools is typically required for specific aircraft models, systems, or maintenance tasks. These tools are numerous, diverse, and require consideration of multiple factors such as usage scenarios, interoperability, and physical properties. Therefore, scientifically and rationally allocating the complete tool list into several toolboxes—that is, forming a toolbox scheme—is a crucial aspect of aircraft supportability design.

[0003] A reasonable toolboxing scheme aims to achieve multiple goals. First, it should ensure that the necessary tools for a specific maintenance task are concentrated in one or a few toolboxes, allowing for immediate access and avoiding repeated searching and retrieval by maintenance personnel, thus significantly improving work efficiency. Second, the scheme must comprehensively consider the internal space dimensions, load-bearing limitations, and physical compatibility between tools in each toolbox to ensure the safety and convenience of transportation and storage. Finally, reasonable toolboxing is also an important prerequisite for optimizing the ergonomic design of toolboxes and reducing the workload of maintenance personnel. Currently, in aircraft design and maintenance engineering practice, the formulation of toolboxing schemes largely relies on the personal experience of designers. Typically, designers need to manually analyze lengthy tool lists, judge which tools should be grouped together based on experience, and then repeatedly test and adjust the configurations based on memory or reference materials to understand the dimensions, weight, and other parameters of each tool and toolbox. This process is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also heavily reliant on personal experience, making it difficult to guarantee the optimality and consistency of the scheme. Especially when the tool list is large and the constraints are complex, manual allocation is prone to problems such as tool dispersion, low space utilization, uneven weight distribution, and even violation of safety regulations. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a platform for generating a modular solution for aircraft maintenance support tools, which mainly includes an application terminal and a management terminal.

[0005] The application includes:

[0006] The aircraft maintenance and support tool list input module is used to import the aircraft maintenance and support tool list from external sources.

[0007] The tool binning scheme output module is used to call the tool binning intelligent algorithm module to generate a binning scheme, and output the tool binning scheme and binning list based on the output template selected from the template management module.

[0008] The management terminal includes:

[0009] The tool library building module is used to build the tool database and toolbox database;

[0010] The tool boxing intelligent algorithm module is used to call the data of the tool database and tool box database according to the tool information in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list, and generate a tool boxing scheme according to the preset boxing principles and constraints.

[0011] The template management module is used to manage and customize the output templates for tool binning solutions.

[0012] Preferably, the information in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list includes: the type, purpose, model, specifications, maintenance specialty, timing of use, quantity, inter-tool relationship, and external diagram.

[0013] Preferably, the tool binning scheme output module is also used to call the three-dimensional digital model data in the tool library construction module to display the generated binning scheme in three dimensions.

[0014] Preferably, the information entries in the tool database constructed by the tool library construction module include: tool type, purpose, model, specifications, main parameters, instructions for use, precautions, and three-dimensional digital model shape; the information entries in the toolbox database include: toolbox type, purpose, model, specifications, external dimensions, usable space, and weight limit.

[0015] Preferably, the tool binning intelligent algorithm module, when generating a binning scheme, is specifically used for:

[0016] Based on the aforementioned boxing principles and constraints, the tools in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list are boxed and combined.

[0017] Based on the information in the toolbox database, select the appropriate toolbox model for the sub-box combination.

[0018] Preferably, the sorting principle includes: assigning tools that are related to each other in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list, or have the same maintenance specialty, or are used in the same maintenance task package to the same group; the restrictions include: placing tools that conflict due to chemical properties, magnetic field interference, or safety regulations in different toolboxes, and imposing total weight and volume restrictions on all tools in the same group.

[0019] This application realizes the intelligent and automated sorting of tools, and generates the optimal solution quickly based on multi-dimensional principles and constraints, which significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of sorting. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a system architecture diagram of a preferred embodiment of the generation platform for the aircraft maintenance support tool compartment scheme of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application. The embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] This application provides a platform for generating a modular solution for aircraft maintenance and support tools, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it mainly includes the application end and the management end;

[0023] The application includes:

[0024] The aircraft maintenance and support tool list input module is used to import the aircraft maintenance and support tool list from external sources.

[0025] The tool binning scheme output module is used to call the tool binning intelligent algorithm module to generate a binning scheme, and output the tool binning scheme and binning list based on the output template selected from the template management module.

[0026] The management terminal includes:

[0027] The tool library building module is used to build the tool database and toolbox database;

[0028] The tool boxing intelligent algorithm module is used to call the data of the tool database and tool box database according to the tool information in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list, and generate a tool boxing scheme according to the preset boxing principles and constraints.

[0029] The template management module is used to manage and customize the output templates for tool binning solutions.

[0030] This application constructs a complete, end-to-end tool binning solution generation platform. The core of its technical solution lies in its modular system architecture and clear division of responsibilities. The application side is for designers, responsible for inputting tool lists and outputting binning solutions; the management side is for administrators, responsible for supporting the tool database and toolbox database, performing binning operations using algorithms, and maintaining output templates. This application separates data maintenance, algorithm core, front-end application, and template management modules, reducing system complexity and facilitating independent upgrades and maintenance of each module.

[0031] The architecture of this application is platform-based, allowing for continuous improvement in platform performance and applicability through database enrichment, algorithm model optimization, and template addition. Based on this platform, this application streamlines and automates the traditional, time-consuming, and labor-intensive binning workflow, significantly shortening the solution generation cycle.

[0032] In an alternative implementation, the application and management terminals can be physically the same software client, but logically differentiated through user permissions and interface modules. For example, a regular design user can only see the list input and scheme output modules after logging in, while an administrator can access all backend management modules after logging in.

[0033] In some alternative implementations, the information in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list includes: the type, purpose, model, specifications, maintenance specialty, timing of use, quantity, inter-tool relationship, and external diagram.

[0034] This embodiment specifies that the list not only includes basic tool identification information, such as tool type, model, and specifications, but more importantly, it includes contextual information strongly related to the binning decision, such as maintenance specialty, usage timing, compatibility, and external diagram. This information forms the basis for subsequent intelligent algorithms to perform associated binning and clustering by task or specialty. It should be noted that designers, on the application side, import maintenance support tool lists for aircraft, systems, or subsystems from external sources as needed through the aircraft maintenance support tool list input module. Depending on the requirements for tool compatibility work, this list can be at the aircraft-wide level, or at the system level, subsystem level, or for a specific piece of equipment that the designer is interested in.

[0035] In some optional implementations, the tool binning scheme output module is also used to call the three-dimensional digital model data in the tool library construction module to display the generated binning scheme in three dimensions.

[0036] The tool binning solution output module in this embodiment not only generates a text list but also calls upon pre-stored tool and toolbox 3D models in the tool library to simulate placement and visualize the tools in 3D space. Essentially, this is a virtual, digital prototype-based trial assembly process. The 3D visualization allows designers to clearly see the tool layout and space occupancy within the bins, quickly identifying potential interference, improper placement, or wasted space.

[0037] In some optional implementations, the information entries in the tool database constructed by the tool library construction module include: tool type, purpose, model, specifications, main parameters, instructions for use, precautions, and three-dimensional digital model shape; the information entries in the toolbox database include: toolbox type, purpose, model, specifications, external dimensions, usable space, and weight limit.

[0038] This embodiment divides the database into two categories: a tool library and a toolbox library, and specifies the key attribute fields that each type of database should include. The tool library information serves algorithm matching and 3D visualization, while the toolbox library's dimensions, usable space, and weight limits are direct constraints for the algorithm's space planning and weight verification. It should be noted that administrators can build the database of tools and toolboxes on the management end through the tool library construction module. The tool library includes general basic tool information and specialized tool information; under each tool category, the database is further divided by model and specification. Similarly, each model of toolbox also needs to be divided into its own database.

[0039] In some optional implementations, the tool binning intelligent algorithm module is specifically used to:

[0040] Based on the aforementioned boxing principles and constraints, the tools in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list are boxed and combined.

[0041] Based on the information in the toolbox database, select the appropriate toolbox model for the sub-box combination.

[0042] In this embodiment, when binning tools, logical clustering is first performed, grouping the tools in the list into several logical tool groups based on binning principles and constraints. Next comes physical matching, finding the most suitable toolbox physically capable of accommodating each group. This is a typical optimization approach of grouping first and then binning. In an alternative embodiment, parameters such as the size of the toolbox can also be used as constraints to directly optimize the grouping scheme.

[0043] In some alternative implementations, the sorting principle includes: assigning tools that are related to each other in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list, or have the same maintenance specialty, or are used in the same maintenance task package to the same group; the restrictions include: placing tools that conflict due to chemical properties, magnetic field interference, or safety regulations in different toolboxes, and imposing total weight and volume restrictions on all tools in the same group.

[0044] This embodiment can automatically plan the tools needed for the same maintenance task or the same professional through clustering rules, which greatly satisfies the need for on-demand access and improves maintenance efficiency from the root. By taking safety specifications and physical exclusivity as hard constraints, it can eliminate safety hazards from the source of solution generation and realize preventive safety design.

[0045] The binning intelligent algorithm module of this application can perform binning according to the following steps: The first step is to group tools within each maintenance specialty based on their usage frequency. If a tool is used in multiple scenarios, it should be prioritized for grouping into the tool group corresponding to the most frequently used scenario. For example, if a tool is used for both aircraft preparation and preventative maintenance, and aircraft preparation is performed before every flight, its usage is more frequent, then the tool group can be set up according to aircraft preparation requirements. If it is used for both A-checks and C-checks in preventative maintenance, then the tool group should be set up according to A-check requirements since A-checks are more frequent.

[0046] The second step involves further grouping tools based on the existing grouping, according to the consistency of the protected objects, belonging to the same maintenance task package, and the order in which they need to be used together. Tools with special storage restrictions are separated or grouped together according to the restrictions.

[0047] The third step involves displaying the grouping results for manual correction, allowing users to adjust the tool's grouping results. Additionally, custom grouping can be performed manually using defined group labels, based on the analyst's needs. For example, tools labeled "Group 1" can be grouped together, and those labeled "Group 2" can be grouped into another group.

[0048] The fourth step is to select a suitable toolbox for each group of tools based on their dimensions and the limitations of the toolbox, such as its external dimensions, usable space, and weight limit. For tools used more frequently, smaller toolboxes should be prioritized. Maximizing space utilization is the primary principle during the packing process.

[0049] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A platform for generating a modular solution for aircraft maintenance and support tools, characterized in that, Including the application side and the management side; The application includes: The aircraft maintenance and support tool list input module is used to import the aircraft maintenance and support tool list from external sources. The tool binning scheme output module is used to call the tool binning intelligent algorithm module to generate a binning scheme, and output the tool binning scheme and binning list based on the output template selected from the template management module. The management terminal includes: The tool library building module is used to build the tool database and toolbox database; The tool boxing intelligent algorithm module is used to call the data of the tool database and tool box database according to the tool information in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list, and generate a tool boxing scheme according to the preset boxing principles and constraints. The template management module is used to manage and customize the output templates for tool binning solutions.

2. The platform for generating the aircraft maintenance support tool compartment scheme according to claim 1, characterized in that, The information in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list includes: the type, purpose, model, specifications, maintenance specialty, timing of use, quantity, inter-tool relationship, and external diagram.

3. The platform for generating the aircraft maintenance support tool compartment scheme according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tool binning scheme output module is also used to call the three-dimensional digital model data in the tool library construction module to display the generated binning scheme in three dimensions.

4. The platform for generating the aircraft maintenance support tool compartment scheme according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tool database constructed by the tool library construction module includes the following information entries: tool type, purpose, model, specifications, main parameters, instructions for use, precautions, and 3D digital model shape; the toolbox database includes the following information entries: toolbox type, purpose, model, specifications, dimensions, usable space, and weight limit.

5. The platform for generating the aircraft maintenance support tool compartment scheme according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tool binning intelligent algorithm module is specifically used to generate binning schemes as follows: Based on the aforementioned boxing principles and constraints, the tools in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list are boxed and combined. Based on the information in the toolbox database, select the appropriate toolbox model for the sub-box combination.

6. The platform for generating the aircraft maintenance support tool compartment scheme according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sorting principle includes: assigning tools that are related to each other in the aircraft maintenance support tool kit list, or have the same maintenance specialty, or are used in the same maintenance task package to the same group; the restrictions include: placing tools that conflict due to chemical properties, magnetic field interference, or safety regulations in different toolboxes, and imposing total weight and volume restrictions on all tools in the same group.

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