Keypoint Signature Matching for Component Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the manufacturing industry, identifying components in complex systems like aircraft is challenging due to the vast number of parts and assemblies, making it difficult for maintenance personnel to locate required maintenance information in a timely manner, especially when part numbers are not readily visible or accessible.
Innovation Solution
The use of keypoint signatures generated from images of components, which are compared to reference signatures in a hierarchical database, allowing for accurate identification of components and their associated information, regardless of orientation, and enabling real-time recognition without the need for additional tags or complex orientation-dependent methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional visual identification methods are used, then workers can physically examine components, but they struggle to identify components quickly among many choices and cannot easily determine part numbers or locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical visual examination process with an optical recognition system. Instead of workers manually examining components, the system uses image capture devices and computer vision algorithms to automatically identify components, their part numbers, and locations, thereby increasing both speed and accuracy simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies (images) of physical components and stores them in a database with associated metadata (part numbers, locations, descriptions). When a component needs identification, the system compares images rather than requiring physical examination, enabling rapid and accurate identification without handling the actual component
2Loss of time
If workers manually search through catalogs to identify components, then they can access part information, but the process is time-consuming and does not provide real-time identification
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-processes and stores component images, part numbers, and maintenance information in a searchable database before actual maintenance operations occur. This preliminary organization of data enables rapid retrieval during maintenance, eliminating the need for workers to manually search through catalogs and significantly reducing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback by capturing an image of a component and instantly returning identification results, part numbers, and maintenance information. This real-time feedback loop eliminates the delay between observing a component and accessing its information, thereby increasing maintenance operation efficiency
3Measurement precision
If component identification systems are added to provide real-time recognition, then identification accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a universal image capture device (such as a smartphone or digital camera) that workers already possess, eliminating the need for specialized expensive equipment. The same device captures images for identification, stores them in the database, and enables real-time recognition, thereby achieving high accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a software intermediary layer (image processing algorithms and database interface) that bridges the simple image capture device and the complex identification requirements. This intermediary handles the complexity of image analysis, matching, and information retrieval, allowing the physical hardware to remain simple while achieving high measurement precision
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to identify components from images of components are disclosed. An example method includes generating first keypoint signatures of an object from at least one image of the object and identifying the object using the first keypoint signatures. Identifying the object comprises: comparing the first keypoint signatures to assembly reference keypoint signatures at a first level in a hierarchical database, the assembly reference keypoint signatures comprising keypoint signatures of multiple views of assemblies containing sets of components; and based on the comparison of the first keypoint signatures to the assembly reference keypoint signatures, comparing the first keypoint signatures to component keypoint signatures at a second level in a hierarchical database lower than the first level, the component reference keypoint signatures comprising keypoint signatures of the components.