Aircraft Ground Refueling Event Tracking With Existing Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft ground refueling operations are prone to errors and omissions due to manual data entry, making the data unreliable for further processing and analysis.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft ground refueling management system that utilizes existing components in the refueling vehicle to track events in real-time, including the status of vehicle brakes, nozzle, and deadman fuel switch, to define and log refueling event times, and generate historical logs for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual entries are used to track refueling events, then the system is simple to operate, but the data reliability deteriorates due to errors and omissions
Solution Approach 1:
The refueling vehicle's existing digital controller and sensors automatically track and report refueling events without requiring manual data entry by operators. The system uses the vehicle's own components (brake sensor, nozzle sensor, deadman fuel switch) to self-monitor and self-report operational data, eliminating human error while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical data entry process with an automated electronic sensing and communication system. Sensors detect physical states (brake application, nozzle position, fuel delivery status) and convert them to digital signals that are automatically transmitted to the central system, substituting human operators with automated detection mechanisms
2Measurement precision
If real-time tracking of multiple sensor statuses is implemented, then operational event accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the multi-functionality of existing vehicle components, using the brake sensor, nozzle sensor, and deadman fuel switch for their primary functions while simultaneously utilizing them as data sources for refueling event tracking. This approach obtains precise measurement data without adding dedicated sensors or measurement devices
Solution Approach 2:
The digital controller of the refueling vehicle serves as an intermediary that collects data from multiple sensors (brake sensor, nozzle sensor, deadman fuel switch) and processes this information to define refueling events. This intermediary consolidates the complexity of multiple sensor inputs into a unified event definition process
3Productivity
If historical logs are created and analyzed to identify time reduction opportunities, then productivity is improved, but the loss of time for data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously collects and stores refueling event data in historical logs during normal operations, preparing the data infrastructure in advance. This preliminary data accumulation allows for rapid analysis when productivity improvements are sought, as the data is already organized and ready for query rather than requiring retrospective data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The system analyzes historical refueling data to generate feedback on operational efficiency, identifying specific events where time durations exceed thresholds. This feedback loop enables continuous improvement by comparing actual performance against historical benchmarks and providing actionable insights for reducing refueling cycle times
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An aircraft ground refueling management system of the present disclosure utilizes various components already existing in an aircraft ground refueling vehicle to characterize and track, in real time, events of an aircraft refueling operation. The components include a fuel meter, a fuel delivery deadman sensor, a fuel nozzle sensor and a ground refueling vehicle brake sensor. Data from these components in combination with data provided by a mobile computing device that is integral to the refueling operation provide the data points to determine the amount of time elapsed for each event of the refueling operation. Knowledge of each event of the refueling operation provides the opportunity for identifying where time spent can be reduced.