RFID Engine Component Tracking System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual recording of aircraft engine component maintenance data leads to errors and lack of real-time data capture, necessitating an automated system for accurate and timely tracking.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft-mounted controller system utilizing RFID tags to store and transmit data about engine components, including identification, repair history, usage, and fault information, with an engine-mounted communication module facilitating data exchange between RFID tags and an external system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual recording of maintenance data is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of data are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical recording processes with an automated RFID-based electronic data collection system. RFID tags attached to engine components automatically transmit maintenance data to a database, eliminating manual data entry and significantly improving data accuracy and reliability while reducing human error.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service data recording where RFID tags automatically capture and transmit maintenance data without requiring manual intervention. The automated system records component usage hours, maintenance events, and replacement information directly into the database, ensuring consistent and accurate data collection.
2Device complexity
If manual recording of maintenance data is used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time for real-time data capture is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual data entry with automated RFID-based electronic data collection. The system captures maintenance data in real-time as components are serviced or replaced, immediately updating the database without requiring manual transcription, thus eliminating time delays in data capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous data capture capability through the database that constantly receives and updates maintenance information from RFID tags. This continuous automated recording ensures that maintenance data is always current and available for monitoring, eliminating gaps and delays associated with manual batch processing.
3Measurement precision
If automated RFID tracking system is implemented, then measurement precision and data reliability are improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal RFID tag system that can track multiple types of engine components (compressors, turbines, valves, etc.) using the same technology platform. The database structure is designed to handle diverse maintenance data types uniformly, reducing the need for component-specific tracking systems and managing complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized database as an intermediary that manages the complexity of data collection from multiple RFID tags. The database serves as a mediator between the RFID tags and the user interface, organizing and processing data automatically, which simplifies the overall system architecture despite the increased number of tracking devices.
4Productivity
If automated RFID tracking system is implemented, then productivity and real-time monitoring are improved, but loss of time for system setup and data management is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-attaching RFID tags to engine components before they are installed in the aircraft. The database structure is pre-configured to recognize and track these tags, so that when components are serviced or replaced, data collection begins immediately without requiring setup time during maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where RFID tags automatically identify themselves and begin transmitting data upon being read by the database system. This eliminates the need for manual configuration or activation during maintenance, allowing immediate data capture and reducing the time required for system setup and ongoing data management.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate, real-time tracking of engine component life cycles, enhancing maintenance data reliability and enabling improved engine health monitoring and component reliability analysis.
Implementation Method 1
reading data from and writing data to a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags positioned around an aircraft engine
Data Source
AI summary
An engine-mounted component life cycle data tracking system is provided. The system includes a plurality of RFID tags associated with, positioned proximate to, and configured to transmit and store identification, repair history, and dynamic data regarding a different engine component of a plurality of engine components, wherein the dynamic data includes engine usage, component usage, and/or component fault information. The system further includes an aircraft-mounted controller that includes non-transient computer readable storage media. The controller is configured to: store identification and repair history data retrieved from the RFID tags in the storage media; store dynamic data for the plurality of engine components in the storage media after each engine cycle; and transmit dynamic data to the RFID tags after each engine cycle for storage. After each engine cycle, the aircraft-mounted controller includes in its storage media the identification, repair history and dynamic data for the plurality of engine component.