Aircraft Trolley Self-Diagnosis for Remote Maintenance Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Roll containers in public transport, such as commercial aircraft, experience high wear and tear, leading to maintenance challenges, especially with moving parts, and existing maintenance methods are costly and inefficient, particularly in locations with low throughput.
Innovation Solution
Equipping roll containers with sensors and a microcomputer to automatically detect operating conditions and transmit data for self-diagnosis and external diagnosis, enabling remote monitoring and timely maintenance, and integrating a communication system for centralized data processing and spare part management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If roll containers are equipped with electronic devices and microcomputers to extend functionality, then the versatility and service capability are improved, but the vulnerability to damage and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary diagnostics by continuously monitoring operating conditions and detecting defects before they lead to failure. The microcomputer collects data from sensors and predicts potential issues, allowing maintenance to be scheduled in advance rather than waiting for actual failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where sensor data about operating conditions is continuously fed back to the microcomputer, which analyzes the data and adjusts maintenance schedules accordingly. This closed-loop system allows the container to self-monitor and report its own status.
2Loss of time
If decentralized maintenance is implemented with repair at destination, then response time to defects is improved, but the cost and logistics complexity increase due to required spare part inventory
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary diagnostics and predicts maintenance needs before defects actually occur. By monitoring operating conditions and wear patterns, the system can schedule maintenance during planned downtime rather than requiring immediate spare parts availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The roll container performs self-diagnosis through integrated sensors and microcomputer, automatically detecting its own defects and reporting status. This reduces the need for external inspection and enables more efficient maintenance scheduling without requiring large inventories of spare parts at each location.
3Productivity
If roll containers operate under high wear and tear conditions, then productivity and usage intensity are improved, but the frequency of defects and maintenance needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors continuously monitor operating conditions such as usage intensity, load, and movement patterns, feeding this data back to the microcomputer. The system analyzes accumulated wear and predicts when maintenance will be needed, allowing proactive scheduling that prevents defects even under high productivity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual inspection and reactive maintenance with an automated electronic monitoring system. Sensors and microcomputers substitute for mechanical inspection methods, continuously tracking the condition of moving parts and predicting failures before they occur.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a trolley for use in a public transportation vehicle, particularly in a commercial aircraft, having a size that is adjusted to the transportation vehicle, wherein a computer, particularly a micro-computer, is associated with the trolley, on which a program for data processing is running, wherein a registration means is present for the registration of the operating state of an equipment related to the transportation vehicle. The registration means keeps the value of the registered operating state available for transmission to a service station, wherein the value of the operating state analyzes a technical defect of the equipment, or the progress of a maintenance interval associated with the equipment.