Aircraft Troubleshooting Server Prioritizes Defective Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft troubleshooting methods require aircraft immobilization on the ground for extensive testing of equipment, leading to prolonged downtime and inefficiency in identifying and repairing defective components.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a troubleshooting assistance server and expert system to prioritize equipment based on sensor measurements and historical data, allowing for remote identification of likely defective components during flight or on the ground, reducing the number of components that need to be tested and shortening maintenance time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a predetermined and fixed order of equipment testing is used, then the troubleshooting process is systematic and complete, but the aircraft immobilization time on the ground is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using sensor measurements taken during flight to pre-identify and prioritize defective equipment before the aircraft lands. The troubleshooting assistance server receives fault messages and sensor data during flight, performs automated analysis to rank equipment by defect probability, and prepares a prioritized testing list before the aircraft reaches the ground, thus reducing ground immobilization time while maintaining systematic troubleshooting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual troubleshooting process with an automated electronic system. Instead of technicians manually testing equipment in a fixed predetermined order on the ground, the system uses automated sensor measurements, fault message analysis, and algorithmic prioritization to identify defective equipment. This substitution of mechanical testing with electronic data processing and automated decision-making significantly reduces the time required for troubleshooting while maintaining completeness
2Reliability
If all equipment on the list is tested in predetermined order, then no defective equipment is missed, but the number of tests required increases maintenance time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complete equipment list into prioritized segments based on defect probability. The troubleshooting assistance server ranks equipment identifiers in order of likelihood to be defective, creating segments where high-priority equipment is tested first. This segmentation allows technicians to focus on the most probable defective equipment initially, maintaining high identification accuracy while reducing the average number of tests required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of equipment testing order from a static predetermined sequence to a dynamic prioritized sequence based on sensor measurements and fault analysis. The system calculates defect probability parameters for each equipment item and adjusts the testing order accordingly. This parameter change enables the system to adapt the testing sequence to the specific fault conditions, improving both identification accuracy and maintenance speed
Data Source
AI summary
A method of assistance for troubleshooting is provided. A purpose is to prioritize identifiers each associated with a piece of equipment the failure of which can be the cause of a fault within an aircraft. The method is based on transmitting to an expert system, a list of identifiers, and receiving, for each identifier, a family of pertinent parameters, with each pertinent parameter being associated with at least one sensor of the aircraft and taking measurements of the pertinent parameters. Knowing these measurements, it is possible to deduce therefrom, for each identifier, a priority corresponding to the probability that the associated equipment is effectively defective. A system for implementing this method is also provided.