Aircraft Intelligent Window Network Monitoring Usable Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft window monitoring systems provide limited information on the usable life of windows and do not account for interactions between multiple windows, making it difficult to determine if window failures are due to construction issues or environmental factors.
Innovation Solution
A network system that includes sensors on aircraft windows to measure characteristics like arcing, temperature, moisture, and impact, with a microprocessor hub to format and send data to a central monitoring system for estimating the usable life of the windows, considering both present and past performance data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are mounted on individual aircraft windows to monitor performance, then real-time performance data can be obtained, but information regarding usable life and life expectancy of the windows is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (impact, rupture, arc, temperature, moisture) on individual windows and merges their data streams at a central monitoring system. This integration allows the system to not only detect current performance parameters but also analyze cumulative damage patterns over time to estimate usable life and life expectancy of the windows.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring sensor data from multiple windows, comparing it against established thresholds and historical patterns, and using this feedback to update life expectancy predictions. The central monitoring system processes ongoing performance data to provide real-time assessments of remaining useful life.
2Measurement precision
If data is collected from each aircraft window as a separate unit, then individual window performance can be monitored, but interaction between aircraft windows is not fully taken into account
Solution Approach 1:
The central monitoring system serves multiple functions: it monitors individual window performance, analyzes network-wide patterns, compares data across multiple windows, and identifies systemic issues. This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt between individual diagnostics and collective analysis seamlessly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional individual window monitoring to multi-dimensional network analysis by incorporating spatial relationships between windows, temporal patterns across multiple data points, and comparative analysis across different flight conditions. This dimensional expansion enables comprehensive interaction analysis.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a network of windows is formed to monitor performance collectively, then interconnect output can be analyzed, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into distributed sensor units on individual windows and a centralized processing system. Each sensor unit independently collects and pre-processes data locally, then transmits summarized information to the central system. This segmentation reduces communication overhead and simplifies the architecture while maintaining network-wide monitoring capabilities.
4Reliability
If present and past performance data are used to determine life expectancy, then predictive maintenance can be performed, but more data processing and storage requirements are created
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the most critical performance parameters and life expectancy indicators from the full sensor data set for storage and analysis. By identifying and retaining only the essential data elements needed for predictive maintenance decisions, the system reduces storage requirements while maintaining prediction accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network system for monitoring and storing data of aircraft intelligent windows or windshields to provide useable life of, provide real life performance of, and/or measure characteristics and/or properties of, the windshields forwards the data from sensors mounting the windshield to a window sensing hub having a microprocessor programed to receive and process the data to determine the performance of the windshield and formatting the data in accordance to a preset program, wherein the program includes providing data from the sensors that measures characteristics and properties of the windshield that are active during the period in which the data is taken. An aircraft central maintenance system connected to the window sensing hub receives the formatted information from the window sensing hub and unfiltered or unformatted information, wherein the unfiltered information from the windshield is acted on by the central maintenance system to provide an estimated useable life of the windshield.