Autonomous Robotic Asset Tracking in Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual inventorying of assets in vehicles is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to human error, requiring frequent inspections and maintenance checks across various types of equipment with varying frequencies and quantities.
Innovation Solution
A robotic vehicle system equipped with a navigation system, asset identification system, and communications interface that autonomously traverses a vehicle to locate and identify assets using RFID tags, transmitting data to a remote computing device for storage and maintenance tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inventorying is performed by persons traversing the vehicle, then assets can be visually checked and recorded, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of persons visually inspecting assets with an automated robotic vehicle equipped with sensors, cameras, and RFID readers. This robotic system autonomously traverses the vehicle, detects assets using non-contact sensing technologies, and records inventory data, thereby eliminating the time-consuming manual process while maintaining or improving inventory accuracy through consistent automated detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a robotic vehicle as an intermediary between the inventory system and the assets. This intermediary autonomously navigates the vehicle interior, positions detection devices near assets, and collects inventory information without requiring human personnel to physically traverse and manually inspect each asset, significantly reducing inventory time while preserving accuracy.
2Reliability
If manual inspection procedures are implemented, then assets can be checked for maintenance needs, but the process requires frequent human intervention and is subject to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual inspection procedures with an automated robotic inspection system that uses sensors, cameras, and RFID readers to detect asset conditions. The robotic vehicle autonomously navigates to asset locations, collects inspection data including maintenance status, and transmits information to a central system, eliminating human error and reducing the need for frequent human intervention while improving inspection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic inspection system operates autonomously without requiring human operators during the inspection process. The vehicle self-navigates, self-detects assets, self-records inspection data, and self-transmits information, performing the entire inspection sequence independently. This self-service capability reduces operation complexity by eliminating manual coordination while enhancing reliability through consistent automated execution.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive asset tracking is performed across all vehicle assets, then complete inventory data is obtained, but the system complexity and data management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal robotic inspection system that can detect and track multiple types of assets using the same platform and detection technologies. The system incorporates RFID readers, cameras, and sensors that can identify various asset categories (seats, entertainment systems, safety equipment) through a single integrated vehicle traversal, obtaining complete inventory data without requiring separate specialized systems for each asset type, thus managing complexity while ensuring information completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for automated asset tracking within an aircraft are disclosed. In one example, a method for use in automated tracking of assets in a vehicle utilizing a robotic vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving inspection data concerning the vehicle and the assets. A navigation path is generated thorough the vehicle. The robotic vehicle traverses the navigation path and locates at least one asset with the vehicle along the navigation path. An identification of the asset located within the vehicle is transmitted to a remote computing device and stored in a database associated with the remote computing device.