Blockchain Tokenization for Aircraft Lifecycle Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack an efficient method to digitally track and trace the lifecycle of complex machinery like aircraft, particularly in cases of part failure or mishap, and to perform reverse forensics effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of blockchain technology through Blockchain Smart Contracts (BSC) or Blockchain Nonfungible Tokens (BNFT) to create a cascading digital twin of the aircraft or complex machine, allowing data collection and tracking from individual parts to systems, with new tokens created as parts are replaced and the removed parts tracked through repair and overhaul.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tracking methods are used for aircraft parts, then the system is simple to implement, but the ability to perform reverse forensics and track parts through full lifecycle is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the aircraft into hierarchical levels (aircraft, system, subsystem, component, part) with each level having its own blockchain smart contract. This segmentation enables granular tracking of individual parts while maintaining overall system context, allowing reverse forensics to trace from part level up through the complete lifecycle without requiring a monolithic complex system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested blockchain smart contracts where contracts at lower hierarchical levels (parts, components) are contained within contracts at higher levels (subsystems, systems, aircraft). This nesting structure allows the system to maintain simplicity at each level while achieving comprehensive tracking capability when all levels are integrated, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity
2Loss of information
If comprehensive data collection is implemented for all parts and systems, then the forensics capability is improved, but the data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides information management into hierarchical segments where each blockchain smart contract level manages data for its specific scope (part, component, subsystem, system, aircraft). This segmentation allows comprehensive data collection to be distributed across multiple manageable contracts rather than centralized in one complex system, maintaining information completeness while reducing management complexity at each level
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal data structure and communication protocol that works across all hierarchical levels of the blockchain smart contracts. This universal framework enables comprehensive data collection from any level while using the same management approach, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from managing different data types and structures at each level
Data Source
AI summary
A method of blockchain tokenization of aircraft and other complex machinery includes creating a series of nesting Blockchain Smart Contracts (BSC) or Blockchain Nonfungible Tokens (BNFT) to digitally twin the complete structure of an aircraft or other complex machines, and collect data from the series of nesting BSC or BNFT through the full product life cycle. Each BSC or BNFT represents a part of the aircraft or other complex machine, from an individual part level (Xp) to a component level (Xc) to a subsystem level (Xss) and/or a system level (Xs) to an aircraft or other complex machine level (Xa), in a cascading architecture. The collected data may be used to perform reverse forensics in the case of a part failure or mishap, and/or to track and trace a part of the aircraft or other complex machine.