Aircraft Maintenance Coordination Interface for Ground Support Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft maintenance activities on the ground require separate planning and execution, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the use of stand-alone systems.

Innovation Solution

An interactive management device that connects external participants, including ground support equipment, via a computer unit with interfaces, allowing centralized coordination of activities, using a computer unit with a mobile housing device and a card system for authorization, and enabling wireless connectivity, solar charging, and integration into larger devices for mobility and power supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If stand-alone systems are used for individual maintenance activities, then each activity can be managed independently, but the overall coordination and planning efficiency deteriorates due to separate effort requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent management capabilityVSAvoidPlanning and coordination efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple stand-alone maintenance management systems into a single centralized management device that can coordinate all maintenance activities around an aircraft simultaneously. This consolidation allows different maintenance tasks to be planned and executed in a coordinated manner, improving overall productivity while maintaining the ability to manage individual activities independently through the unified system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If comprehensive planning of all maintenance activities is carried out separately, then complete coordination is achieved, but time expenditure and costs significantly increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCoordination completenessVSAvoidPlanning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The management device enables automatic coordination and planning of maintenance activities through self-service functionality. The system automatically schedules, assigns, and coordinates multiple maintenance tasks without requiring manual intervention for each individual activity, thereby achieving complete coordination while significantly reducing the time and resources required for planning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate units are used for different maintenance activities, then specialized functionality is maintained, but management complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSpecialized functionalityVSAvoidSystem management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal management device that can handle multiple types of maintenance activities through a single system. The device is designed with multi-functional capabilities to manage various maintenance tasks (catering, cleaning, refueling, etc.) simultaneously, thereby maintaining specialized functionality for each activity type while reducing overall system management complexity and costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates coordinated and efficient planning and execution of maintenance activities around parked aircraft, reducing costs and enhancing mobility and connectivity without the need for additional infrastructure.

Implementation Method 1

the mobile housing device comprises at least one replaceable energy storage system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBattery (electricity): Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 2

the mobile housing device comprises at least one solar module for charging the at least one replaceable energy storage system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolar Energy: Solar Energy

Data Source

PatentEP4674766A1Interactive management device and method for managing maintenance devices for an aircraft
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP4674766A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4674766A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4674766A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an interactive management device (1) for managing maintenance devices (15) for an aircraft (100) comprising: a computer unit (2) with computer program (3) and at least one interactive interface (4) configured to connect external technical participants with the computer unit (2) with computer program (3) wherein the external technical participants comprise at least one participant from a group of maintenance devices (15), in particular from a group of ground support equipment, for an aircraft (100). In addition, a method (M) for managing maintenance devices for an aircraft (100) is disclosed.