Aircraft Maintenance System Distributed Terminal Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft maintenance systems lack an efficient method to manage and coordinate maintenance tasks across multiple components and users, leading to inefficiencies and increased downtime.

Innovation Solution

A maintenance system with multiple communication terminals located physically around the aircraft, in data communication with each other, executes a maintenance software program that assigns and controls maintenance tests across associated components, allowing for distributed task management and coordination among users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a centralized maintenance system is used, then coordination is simplified, but maintenance personnel must travel to different locations increasing downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance coordinationVSAvoidaircraft downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance system is segmented into multiple distributed terminals located at different aircraft locations (cockpit, cargo hold, engine areas). Each terminal can independently execute maintenance tests locally, eliminating the need for centralized coordination and reducing personnel travel time while maintaining systematic oversight through the distributed network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a single-dimensional centralized control model to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture where maintenance terminals are spatially distributed across the aircraft. This dimensional change allows parallel execution of maintenance tasks at multiple locations simultaneously, reducing overall maintenance time while maintaining coordination through the data communication network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple maintenance personnel are deployed, then tasks can be performed in parallel, but coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance task completion speedVSAvoidsystem coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each distributed maintenance terminal is designed as a universal multi-functional unit capable of executing various maintenance tests, displaying results, and communicating with other terminals. This standardization allows multiple personnel to work in parallel using identical interfaces and protocols, increasing productivity while reducing coordination complexity through uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The distributed terminals are interconnected through a data communication network that provides real-time feedback between terminals. Each terminal can receive status updates, coordinate task assignments, and share maintenance data automatically, enabling parallel work by multiple personnel without increasing coordination complexity due to automated information exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9475590B2Method of implementing a maintenance schedule for an aircraft and a maintenance system

Publication Date: 2016.10.25 GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

A maintenance system for use with an aircraft and a method of implementing a maintenance schedule for an aircraft with a maintenance system comprising multiple communication terminals located physically about the aircraft and in data communication with each other, the method includes executing a maintenance software program for a maintenance routine comprising maintenance tests corresponding to components of the aircraft and displaying the maintenance routine on at least one of the communication terminals to define a control terminal.