Wearable Device for Hands-Free Aircraft Maintenance Data Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional maintenance access terminals for aircraft maintenance are non-portable and occupy mechanics' hands, limiting efficiency and increasing downtime due to their wired connection and fixed operation within the cockpit.

Innovation Solution

A wearable device with a display system, audio system, and recording devices that communicates with onboard avionics, airline operations, and inventory management systems to provide maintenance information to users, allowing for hands-free operation and improved portability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional maintenance access terminals are implemented on laptops or computers, then maintenance information can be accessed, but the terminals occupy mechanics' hands and limit portability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free operationVSAvoidportability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical computer terminals with a wearable display device that presents maintenance information directly to the mechanic's field of view, eliminating the need for manual operation of traditional terminals while maintaining information access capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional screen interaction to three-dimensional spatial presentation by displaying information in the mechanic's field of view, allowing hands-free operation while maintaining full access to maintenance data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If conventional maintenance terminals are wired with aircraft systems, then information access is enabled, but portability is limited during maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces wired physical connections with wireless communication technology, enabling the wearable device to access aircraft systems data without physical cables, thus achieving full portability while maintaining reliable data transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If maintenance personnel use conventional terminals, then maintenance information is accessible, but maintenance activity completion is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides maintenance information proactively in the mechanic's field of view before it is needed, allowing the mechanic to anticipate and prepare for upcoming tasks, thereby reducing idle time and improving overall maintenance efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wearable device acts as an intermediary between the aircraft systems and the maintenance personnel, delivering filtered and relevant information directly to the point of need, eliminating the time loss associated with manually searching through terminal interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10065750B2Aircraft maintenance systems and methods using wearable device

Publication Date: 2018.09.04 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

Methods and systems are provided for managing maintenance activities of an aircraft using a wearable device. In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving, at the wearable device, part data from at least one of a video recording device and an audio recording device of the wearable device; communicating by the wearable device with at least one of an onboard avionics system, an airline operations system, and an inventory management system based on the part data; and presenting maintenance information to a user via at least one of a display system, and an audio system of the wearable device based on the communicating.