Autonomous Mobile Robots for Aircraft Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft maintenance systems lack continuous and periodic data for monitoring component conditions, rely on disassembly for inspecting hidden areas, and require extensive time for manual inspections, making them inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous robotic inspection and maintenance system comprising mobile robotic machines, a wireless communications system, and a computer system that allows for the selection and execution of inspection processes, enabling continuous data exchange and efficient operation across various aircraft structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual inspection methods are used, then flexibility and adaptability to different aircraft configurations are maintained, but inspection time and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic inspection system performs autonomous inspections without continuous human intervention. The robot navigates independently, selects inspection points, executes inspection tasks, and transmits data automatically, enabling the system to serve itself and reducing the need for manual operation while maintaining high inspection speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection methods with an automated robotic system equipped with sensors and navigation capabilities. This substitution eliminates the need for human inspectors to physically access and examine aircraft components, dramatically increasing inspection speed while the modular robot design keeps system complexity manageable
2Measurement precision
If disassembly is performed to inspect hidden areas, then inspection completeness is improved, but inspection time and potential damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is designed with specialized sensors and navigation capabilities that enable it to inspect hidden and hard-to-reach areas directly without requiring preliminary disassembly actions. The robot can access confined spaces and examine components in situ, completing inspections faster while maintaining completeness and eliminating disassembly-related risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical disassembly methods with sensor-based detection systems that can penetrate or detect conditions through surfaces and confined spaces. This substitution allows inspection of hidden areas without physical access, reducing inspection time while maintaining measurement precision
3Reliability
If frequent inspections are conducted to monitor component conditions, then reliability is improved, but time and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic inspection system enables continuous monitoring of aircraft components through automated, repeated inspections. The robot can perform inspections at scheduled intervals or continuously during aircraft operation, providing ongoing data on component conditions. This continuous action improves reliability through better monitoring while the automation maintains high inspection efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous robotic system performs repeated inspections without requiring proportional increases in human resources. Once deployed, the robot independently executes inspection tasks, transmits data, and can be repositioned for subsequent inspections, enabling frequent monitoring while maintaining operational efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
The different advantageous embodiments may provide an apparatus that may comprise a number of mobile robotic machines, a wireless communications system and a computer system. The number of mobile robotic machines may be capable of moving to a number of locations in a maintenance area and may be capable of performing a number of maintenance operations on a structure in the maintenance area. The wireless communications system may be capable of providing communication with the number of mobile robotic machines within the maintenance area. The computer system may be capable of exchanging information with the number of mobile robotic machines using the wireless communications system.