Aircraft monitoring system and method for setting maintenance work

Abstract

To set proper and efficient maintenance work.SOLUTION: An aircraft monitoring system comprises a control unit for monitoring the state of an aircraft and setting maintenance work required for the aircraft. The control unit comprises: a step for acquiring monitoring information obtained by monitoring the state of the aircraft; and a step for acquiring part information which is information on the state of parts used in the aircraft, and extracting and setting items of the maintenance work required for the aircraft based on the monitoring information and the part information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aircraft monitoring system and a method for setting maintenance work.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a maintenance work support system that acquires information related to the state of a device, determines whether it is normal or not from the acquired state of the device, and outputs maintenance work associated with the state of the device when it is not normal (abnormal) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, since an aircraft to be the target of maintenance work has a large number of parts, if an attempt is made to select maintenance work items based only on the monitoring information obtained by monitoring the aircraft, the options for the selected maintenance work items will increase, or unnecessary maintenance processes will be carried out in a predetermined maintenance work. For this reason, it has been difficult to plan efficient maintenance work for an aircraft with a setting of maintenance work based only on monitoring information.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an aircraft monitoring system and a method for setting maintenance work that can set appropriate and efficient maintenance work.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In the aircraft monitoring system of the present disclosure, which includes a control unit for monitoring the state of an aircraft and setting maintenance work required for the aircraft, the control unit performs the steps of: obtaining monitoring information obtained by monitoring the state of the aircraft; obtaining component information which is information on the state of components used in the aircraft, and based on the monitoring information and the component information, extracting and setting items of the maintenance work required for the aircraft.

[0007] The method for setting maintenance work of the present disclosure is a method for setting maintenance work executed by an aircraft monitoring system that monitors the state of an aircraft and sets maintenance work required for the aircraft. The aircraft monitoring system performs the steps of: obtaining monitoring information obtained by monitoring the state of the aircraft; obtaining component information which is information on the state of components used in the aircraft, and based on the monitoring information and the component information, extracting and setting items of the maintenance work required for the aircraft.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, appropriate and efficient maintenance work can be set.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments. Further, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be replaced and are easy for those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same. Furthermore, the components described below can be combined as appropriate, and when there are multiple embodiments, the embodiments can also be combined with each other.

[0011] [This Embodiment] The monitoring system (aircraft monitoring system) 15 according to this embodiment is a system for monitoring the state of an aircraft. Further, the monitoring system 15 sets maintenance work required for the aircraft based on the monitoring information obtained as the monitoring result. The aircraft to be monitored by the monitoring system 15 may be a manned aircraft or an unmanned aircraft, and is not particularly limited. With reference to FIG. 1, the monitoring system 15 will be described.

[0012] (Monitoring System) FIG. 1 is a diagram of the monitoring system according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the monitoring system 15 is connected to a BOM (Bill Of Materials) system 17 and a work record database 18 via a communication network 27, and information communication is performed between them.

[0013] The monitoring system 15 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a display unit 23, and an input unit 24. Further, an administrator terminal 29 is connected to the monitoring system 15 via the communication network 27. Although not shown in the figure, the administrator terminal 29 has a display unit and an input unit, similar to the monitoring system 15, and can display monitoring information and set maintenance work.

[0014] The control unit 21 includes, for example, an integrated circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 21 executes data processing for monitoring the aircraft or executes data processing for setting maintenance work based on the monitoring information. The storage unit 22 is an arbitrary storage device such as a semiconductor storage device and a magnetic storage device. Information acquired from various systems, information generated by various processes, etc. are stored in this storage unit 22. The display unit 23 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, for example. The input unit 24 is an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, for example.

[0015] When the monitoring system 15 acquires the monitoring information, it determines the presence or absence of the occurrence of abnormalities and omens based on the monitoring information and the component information acquired from the BOM system 17 described later, and sets the items of maintenance work based on the determination result. Further, the monitoring system 15 determines the presence or absence of regular inspections based on the component information acquired from the BOM system 17 described later, and sets the items of maintenance work based on the determination result.

[0016] The BOM system 17 stores information for managing aircraft parts used in maintenance work. The BOM system 17 includes a parts database DB1 that stores parts information, which is information about the parts, and a master database DB2 that stores a work master, which is information about maintenance work associated with the parts. The parts information includes the aircraft as an asset, the type of the parts, the location where the parts are used, the number of times the parts are used, and the usage time of the parts, and these are associated information. Also, the work master includes the type of the asset associated with the asset of the parts information, the type of the parts, the range of usage and maintenance records of the parts, a regular work master, and an abnormal / symptom response work master, and these are associated information. The regular work master has a condition (regular work occurrence condition) including the timing requirements of maintenance work to be periodically performed and items of maintenance work associated with the condition. Also, the abnormal / symptom response work master has a condition (abnormal / symptom condition) of maintenance work to be performed when an abnormality / symptom occurs and items of maintenance work associated with the condition. Note that the abnormal / symptom means at least one of an abnormality and a sign of an abnormality.

[0017] The work record database 18 stores work record data of maintenance work. The work record database 18 records, as work record data, information obtained during the maintenance work, for example, information on the maintenance location input by the worker, image information obtained by the imaging device, etc.

[0018] Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an overview of the functions of the monitoring system 15 will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram functionally showing the monitoring system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, an aircraft is treated as an asset. As shown in FIG. 2, the monitoring system 15 acquires monitoring information from the asset. The monitoring system 15 reflects the state of the parts of the asset acquired based on the monitoring information in the BOM system 17. The monitoring system 15 determines the state of the asset based on the acquired monitoring information of the asset. Then, the monitoring system 15 identifies the type of the asset in the parts database DB1 of the BOM system 17 and the type of the asset corresponding to the asset in the master database DB2. The monitoring system 15 extracts the regular work occurrence conditions and the abnormality / symptom conditions of the asset type from the regular work master and the abnormality / symptom response work master based on the identified asset type. Further, the monitoring system 15 extracts the regular work occurrence conditions and the abnormality / symptom conditions of the parts from the regular work master and the abnormality / symptom response work master based on the usage history and maintenance history of the parts of the asset. The monitoring system 15 sets the items of maintenance work required based on the type of the asset and the regular work occurrence conditions of the parts, and sets the items of maintenance work required based on the type of the asset and the abnormality / symptom conditions of the parts.

[0019] (Method for setting maintenance work) Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a method for setting maintenance work according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart regarding the method for setting maintenance work according to this embodiment. Note that in FIG. 3 as well, the aircraft is treated as an asset. The control unit 21 of the monitoring system 15 acquires monitoring information from each asset (step S1). Based on the acquired monitoring information, the control unit 21 reflects the usage record of the components constituting the asset in the BOM system 17 (step S2). In step S2, the control unit 21 calculates the number of uses and usage time of each component of the asset from the monitoring information, and updates the component information in the BOM system 17 by adding the calculated number of uses and usage time to the number of uses and usage time of the components in the BOM system 17.

[0020] After that, the control unit 21 respectively executes the setting of maintenance work based on abnormalities and omens and the setting of maintenance work as a regular event. As the setting of maintenance work based on abnormalities and omens, after the execution of step S2, the control unit 21 acquires component information from the component database DB1 and the master database DB2 of the BOM system 17, and extracts abnormality and omen conditions from the abnormality and omen response work master according to the usage record and maintenance record of the components (step S3). In addition, the control unit 21 extracts abnormality and omen conditions from the abnormality and omen response work master according to the type of asset corresponding to the monitoring information (step S4). The control unit 21 determines whether there is an abnormality or omen based on the abnormality and omen conditions extracted in steps S3 and S4 (step S5). In step S5, when the control unit 21 determines that there is an abnormality or omen (step S5: Yes), it acquires and sets the maintenance work corresponding to the abnormality and omen from the abnormality and omen response work master (step S6), and proceeds to step S10 described later. On the other hand, in step S5, when the control unit 21 determines that there is no abnormality or omen (step S5: No), it does not execute step S6 and proceeds to step S10 described later.

[0021] On the other hand, after the execution of step S2, as the setting of maintenance work for a periodic event, the control unit 21 acquires component information from the component database DB1 and the master database DB2 of the BOM system 17, and extracts the periodic work occurrence conditions from the periodic work master according to the usage history and maintenance history of the components (step S13). Further, the control unit 21 extracts the periodic work occurrence conditions from the periodic work master according to the type of asset corresponding to the monitoring information (step S14). The control unit 21 determines whether a periodic work occurs based on the periodic work occurrence conditions extracted in steps S13 and S14 (step S15). If the control unit 21 determines in step S15 that a periodic work occurs (step S15: Yes), it acquires and sets the maintenance work corresponding to the periodic event from the periodic work master (step S16), and proceeds to step S10 described later. On the other hand, if the control unit 21 determines in step S15 that a periodic work does not occur (step S15: No), it proceeds to step S10 described later without executing step S16.

[0022] After the execution of steps S6 and S16, the control unit 21 creates a list of necessary maintenance work in the order of priority for the set maintenance work (step S10), and ends the process related to the setting of the maintenance work.

[0023] In step S10, when the control unit 21 determines that the component requires maintenance work at the initial stage of use start, if the timing requirement of the component is the initial stage of use start, it sets the priority of the maintenance work associated with the component to be higher. Also, in step S10, when the control unit 21 determines that the component is a consumable and the timing requirement of the component is the stable operation period, it sets the priority of the maintenance work associated with the component to be higher before the allowable consumption of the component.

[0024] In step S10, the control unit 21 may be set such that, for example, the priority of the maintenance work set in both step S6 and step S16 is increased. Also, in step S10, for example, it may be set such that the priority of the maintenance work based on the abnormality / symptom conditions extracted in both step S3 and step S4 is increased. Further, in step S10, for example, it may be set such that the priority of the maintenance work based on the regular work occurrence conditions extracted in both step S13 and step S14 is increased.

[0025] Note that in the present embodiment, the control unit 21 sets the maintenance work based on the monitoring information and the component information. However, the maintenance work may be further set so as to omit unnecessary work processes in the work process of the maintenance work based on the monitoring information and the component information.

[0026] As described above, the aircraft monitoring system (monitoring system 15) and the maintenance work setting method described in the present embodiment are understood as follows, for example.

[0027] In the aircraft monitoring system according to the first aspect, in the aircraft monitoring system including the control unit 21 that monitors the state of the aircraft and sets the maintenance work required for the aircraft, the control unit 21 includes: step S1 of acquiring monitoring information obtained by monitoring the state of the aircraft; and steps S3 and S13 of acquiring component information that is information on the state of components used in the aircraft, and extracting and setting items of the maintenance work required for the aircraft based on the monitoring information and the component information.

[0028] According to this configuration, since the items of the maintenance work based on the monitoring information and the component information can be set, by taking into account the state of the components, the maintenance work with high accuracy can be set. As a result, the setting of unnecessary maintenance work and unnecessary work processes can be omitted, and appropriate and efficient maintenance work can be set.

[0029] As a second aspect, in the aircraft monitoring system according to the first aspect, in step S3 of extracting and setting the items of the maintenance work, the control unit 21 extracts, based on the component information, the maintenance work to be performed on the abnormality / omen associated with the component, determines, based on the monitoring information, whether or not the abnormality / omen has occurred, and if it is determined that the abnormality / omen has occurred, sets the maintenance work associated with the abnormality / omen.

[0030] According to this configuration, appropriate maintenance work corresponding to the abnormality / omen can be set according to the state of the component.

[0031] As a third aspect, in the aircraft monitoring system according to the first or second aspect, in step S13 of extracting and setting the items of the maintenance work, the control unit extracts, based on the component information, the maintenance work to be periodically performed on the component, determines whether or not the timing requirement of the maintenance work to be periodically performed is satisfied, and if it is determined that the timing requirement is satisfied, sets the maintenance work to be periodically performed.

[0032] According to this configuration, appropriate maintenance work to be periodically performed can be set according to the state of the component.

[0033] As a fourth aspect, in the aircraft monitoring system according to the third aspect, when the control unit 21 determines that the timing requirement is the initial stage of use if the component is a component that requires the maintenance work in the initial stage of use, it sets the priority of the maintenance work associated with the component to be high.

[0034] According to this configuration, appropriate maintenance work corresponding to the initial stage of use of the component can be set.

[0035] As a fifth aspect, in the aircraft monitoring system according to the third aspect, when the control unit 21 determines that the period requirement is the stable operation period if the component is a consumable, before the allowable consumption of the component, it is set so that the priority of the maintenance work associated with the component becomes higher.

[0036] According to this configuration, it is possible to set appropriate maintenance work according to the stable operation period of the component.

[0037] The method for setting maintenance work according to the sixth aspect is a method for setting maintenance work executed by an aircraft monitoring system (monitoring system 15) that monitors the state of an aircraft and sets the maintenance work required for the aircraft, the aircraft monitoring system including: a step S1 of acquiring monitoring information obtained by monitoring the state of the aircraft; and steps S3 and S13 of acquiring component information that is information on the state of components used in the aircraft, and extracting and setting items of the maintenance work required for the aircraft based on the monitoring information and the component information.

[0038] According to this configuration, since it is possible to set items of maintenance work based on the monitoring information and the component information, by taking into account the state of the components, it is possible to set highly accurate maintenance work. As a result, it is possible to omit the setting of unnecessary maintenance work and unnecessary work processes, and to set appropriate and efficient maintenance work.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0039] 15 Monitoring System 21 Control Unit 22 Storage Unit 23 Display Unit 24 Input Unit DB1 Component Database DB2 Master Database

Claims

1. In an aircraft monitoring system comprising a control unit that monitors the state of an aircraft and sets maintenance work required for the aircraft, the control unit acquires monitoring information obtained by monitoring the state of the aircraft, acquires component information which is information on the state of components used in the aircraft, and extracts and sets items of the maintenance work required for the aircraft based on the monitoring information and the component information. An aircraft monitoring system that performs these steps.

2. In the step of extracting and setting the items of the maintenance work, the control unit extracts the maintenance work to be performed for an abnormality / symptom associated with the component based on the component information, determines whether or not the abnormality / symptom has occurred based on the monitoring information, The aircraft monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the abnormality / symptom has occurred, the maintenance work associated with the abnormality / symptom is set.

3. In the step of extracting and setting the items of the maintenance work, the control unit extracts the maintenance work to be periodically performed for the component based on the component information, determines whether or not time requirements for the periodically performed maintenance work are satisfied, The aircraft monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the time requirements are satisfied, the periodically performed maintenance work is set.

4. The control unit When it is determined that the time requirement is the initial stage of use because the component is a component that requires the maintenance work in the initial stage of use, the priority of the maintenance work associated with the component is set to be high. The aircraft monitoring system according to claim 3.

5. The control unit When it is determined that the time requirement is the stable operation period because the component is a consumable, the priority of the maintenance work associated with the component is set to be high before the allowable consumption of the component. The aircraft monitoring system according to claim 3.

6. A method for setting maintenance work executed by an aircraft monitoring system that monitors the state of an aircraft and sets maintenance work required for the aircraft, wherein the aircraft monitoring system acquires monitoring information obtained by monitoring the state of the aircraft, A method for setting maintenance work, which includes the step of acquiring component information that is information on the state of components used in the aircraft, and extracting and setting items of the maintenance work required for the aircraft based on the monitoring information and the component information.

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