Automated Engine Inspection via 3D Data Thresholding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft engine inspections are time-consuming and dependent on human expertise, leading to aircraft grounding and inefficiencies in determining component damage, which affects operational readiness and maintenance scheduling.
Innovation Solution
A method using three-dimensional and two-dimensional data inspection techniques, where data is collected during a first period, analyzed to determine damage thresholds, and subsequent instructions are provided for aircraft release, with automated inspection during a second period to measure damage, reducing human intervention and increasing operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If human inspectors manually examine engine components, then damage can be identified, but the inspection process becomes time-consuming and requires aircraft grounding
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary damage identification during the first period using initial inspection data, allowing the aircraft to be released for operation before comprehensive measurement. The automated system pre-identifies potential damage areas so that detailed measurement can occur later without grounding the aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual human inspection with an automated computer-based system that collects, processes, and analyzes inspection data. This substitution eliminates the need for human inspectors to physically examine components, significantly reducing inspection time while maintaining or improving measurement precision through automated image processing and analysis algorithms.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive damage measurement is performed before aircraft release, then accurate damage assessment is achieved, but operational readiness is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary damage identification during the first period using initial inspection data, allowing the aircraft to be released for operation before comprehensive measurement. The automated system pre-identifies potential damage areas so that detailed measurement can occur later without grounding the aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection process is divided into two distinct periods: the first period for preliminary damage identification and aircraft release decision, and the second period for comprehensive damage measurement while the aircraft is operational. This periodic approach allows the aircraft to be released based on initial assessment while completing detailed measurement afterward, thereby maintaining operational readiness while achieving accurate damage assessment.
3Productivity
If automated inspection systems are implemented, then inspection speed increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated inspection system is designed to perform multiple functions: collecting inspection data, processing images, identifying damage, measuring damage parameters, and determining aircraft release decisions. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated system, the patent achieves high inspection throughput while managing complexity through multi-functionality rather than requiring separate systems for each task.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising: inspecting an engine during a first period of time to identify damage, the engine being associated with an aircraft; receiving three-dimensional data of one or more components of the engine, the three-dimensional data being generated during the first period of time; determining, during the first period of time, whether the identified damage exceeds a threshold; providing instructions to release the aircraft for operation in a second period of time, subsequent to the first period of time, if the identified damage does not exceed the threshold; and inspecting the received three-dimensional data during the second period of time to measure damage.