System, method and computer program product for maintaining a structure

• US 20040073411A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Westerman, Everett A. Bud, Alston, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US10/271,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems

Abstract

A system is provided for maintaining a structure that includes a plurality of components, where the system includes a database and a processing element. The database can store a surface map of the structure that includes a three-dimensional actual model representative of the structure. The surface map includes a plurality of maintenance zones that each includes a three-dimensional actual model representative of at least one component. At least two of the maintenance zones include a three-dimensional actual model representative of a portion of the same component. The database can also store at least one maintenance action associated with each maintenance zone. The processing element can generate a maintenance plan for the structure based upon the maintenance zones and the maintenance actions associated with each maintenance zone. The processing element can also drive at least one maintenance device to perform at least one maintenance operation based upon the maintenance plan.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining a structure comprising a plurality of components, said system comprising:

a database capable of storing a surface map of the structure comprising a three-dimensional actual model representative of the structure, wherein the surface map includes a plurality of maintenance zones that each include a three-dimensional actual model representative of at least one component of the structure, wherein at least two maintenance zones include a three-dimensional actual model representative of a portion of the same component, and wherein the database is also capable of storing at least one maintenance action associated with each maintenance zone; and

a processing element in electrical communication with said database capable of generating a maintenance plan for the structure based upon the maintenance zones and the at least one maintenance action associated with each maintenance zone.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a metrology system capable of mapping a plurality of points of the structure, wherein said processing element is capable of generating the surface map based upon the points.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said processing element is further capable of driving at least one maintenance device to perform at least one maintenance operation based upon the maintenance plan

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said processing element is capable of receiving maintenance data for at least one maintenance zone based upon the performance of the at least one maintenance operation by the at least one maintenance device.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said processing element is capable of updating at least one of the at least one maintenance action and the maintenance zones based upon the maintenance data to thereby update the maintenance plan.

6. A system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one maintenance device capable of performing the at least one maintenance operation and gathering data as the at least one maintenance device performs the at least one maintenance operation.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said processing element is capable of generating maintenance data based upon the data gathered by the at least one maintenance device.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said processing element is capable of updating at least one of the at least one maintenance action and the maintenance zones based upon the maintenance data to thereby update the maintenance plan.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one maintenance device is further capable of mapping a plurality of points of the structure after performing the at least one maintenance operation, wherein said processing element is capable of generating an updated surface map based upon the points, and wherein said database is capable of storing the updated surface map.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said processing element is capable of comparing the surface map and the updated surface map and thereafter generating maintenance data for at least one maintenance zone based upon the comparison.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said processing element is capable of updating at least one of the at least one maintenance action and the maintenance zones based upon the maintenance data to thereby update the maintenance plan.

12. A method for maintaining a structure comprising a plurality of components, said method comprising:

providing a surface map of the structure comprising a three-dimensional actual model representative of the structure, wherein the surface map includes a plurality of maintenance zones that each include a three-dimensional actual model representative of at least one component of the structure, wherein at least two maintenance zones include a three-dimensional actual model representative of a portion of the same component, and wherein the database is also capable of storing at least one maintenance action associated with each maintenance zone; and

generating a maintenance plan for the structure based upon the maintenance zones and the at least one maintenance action associated with each maintenance zone.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising mapping a plurality of points of the structure and thereafter generating the surface map based upon the points, wherein mapping the plurality of points occurs before providing the surface map.

14. A method according to claim 12 further comprising driving at least one maintenance device to perform at least one maintenance operation based upon the maintenance plan.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising receiving maintenance data for at least one maintenance zone based upon the performance of the at least one maintenance operation by the at least one maintenance device.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising updating at least one of the at least one maintenance action and the maintenance zones based upon the maintenance data to thereby update the maintenance plan.

17. A method according to claim 14 further comprising gathering data as the at least one maintenance device is driven to perform the at least one maintenance operation.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein gathering data further comprises generating maintenance data based upon the data gathered by the at least one maintenance device.

19. A method according to claim 18 further comprising updating at least one of the at least one maintenance action and the maintenance zones based upon the generated maintenance data to thereby update the maintenance plan.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein driving the at least one maintenance device further comprises driving the at least one maintenance device to map a plurality of points of the structure after performing the at least one maintenance operation, wherein said method further comprises generating an updated surface map based upon the points.

21. A method according to claim 20 further comprising comparing the surface map and the updated surface map and thereafter generating maintenance data for at least one maintenance zone based upon the comparison.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising updating at least one of the at least one maintenance action and the maintenance zones based upon the generated maintenance data to thereby update the maintenance plan.

23. A computer program product for maintaining a structure comprising a plurality of components, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

a first executable portion for accessing a surface map of the structure comprising a three-dimensional actual model representative of the structure, wherein the surface map includes a plurality of maintenance zones that each include a three-dimensional actual model representative of at least one component of the structure, wherein at least two maintenance zones include a three-dimensional actual model representative of a portion of the same component, and wherein said first executable portion is also capable of accessing at least one maintenance action associated with each maintenance zone; and

a second executable portion for generating a maintenance plan for the structure based upon the maintenance zones and the at least one maintenance action associated with each maintenance zone.

24. A computer program product according to claim 23 further comprising a third executable portion for generating the surface map based upon a mapping of a plurality of points of the structure.

25. A computer program product according to claim 23 further comprising a third executable portion for driving at least one maintenance device to perform at least one maintenance operation based upon the maintenance plan.

26. A computer program product according to claim 25 further comprising a fourth executable portion for receiving maintenance data for at least one maintenance zone based upon the performance of the at least one maintenance operation by the at least one maintenance device.

27. A computer program product according to claim 26, wherein said second executable portion is further capable of updating at least one of the at least one maintenance action and the maintenance zones based upon the maintenance data to thereby update the maintenance plan.

28. A computer program product according to claim 25 further a fourth executable portion for receiving data gathered as the at least one maintenance device is driven to perform the at least one maintenance operation.

29. A computer program product according to claim 28, wherein said fourth executable portion is further capable of generating maintenance data based upon the data received.

30. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein said fourth executable portion is further capable of updating at least one of the at least one maintenance action and the maintenance zones based upon the generated maintenance data to thereby update the maintenance plan.

31. A computer program product according to claim 28, wherein said third executable portion further drives the at least one maintenance device to map a plurality of points of the structure after performing the at least one maintenance operation, wherein said computer program product further comprises a fifth executable portion for generating an updated surface map based upon the points.

32. A computer program product according to claim 31, wherein said fifth executable portion is further capable of comparing the surface map and the updated surface map and thereafter generating maintenance data for at least one maintenance zone based upon the comparison.

33. A computer program product according to claim 32, wherein said fifth executable portion is further capable of updating at least one of the at least one maintenance action and the maintenance zones based upon the generated maintenance data to thereby update the maintenance plan.