Prognostic Condition Assessment Decision Aid

• US 20080125933A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Poblete, James L., Williams, Zachary C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Methods and systems for prognostic condition assessment decision aid of a fleet of vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a schedule of missions and maintenance of a fleet of vehicles, comprising receiving data from the fleet of vehicles for missions and maintenance activity, determining mission and maintenance requirements, processing the received data and requirements to provide an operational allocation the fleet of vehicles, determining an alternative allocation of the operational allocation the fleet of vehicles, the alternative allocation satisfying at least one operational objective for the fleet of vehicles, and generating a schedule for the alternative allocation of the fleet of vehicles.

Claims

1. A method to schedule missions and maintenance of a fleet of vehicles, comprising:

receiving data from the fleet of vehicles for missions and maintenance activity;

determining mission and maintenance requirements;

processing the received data and requirements to provide an operational allocation of the fleet of vehicles;

determining an alternative allocation of the operational allocation of the fleet of vehicles, the alternative allocation satisfying at least one operational objective for the fleet of vehicles; and

generating a schedule for the alternative allocation of the fleet of vehicles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational objective includes at least one of reducing operational cost metrics and improving operational reliability, availability, and utilization metrics of the fleet of vehicles, and wherein the maintenance requirements include at least one of maintainer availability, spare parts inventory, and lead time for maintenance

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an alternative allocation includes receiving a user input, and determining the alternative allocation using the user input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mission requirements include at least one of mission priorities, alternative vehicle availability and location, and operational risk tolerance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the received data includes simulating at least one mission and maintenance allocation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the simulated mission and maintenance allocation includes production processes and metrics, mission processes and metrics, maintenance processes and metrics, command and control processes and metrics, and fleet management processes and metrics.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the alternative allocation of a fleet of vehicles includes determining an alternative mission and maintenance allocation to at least perform one of increasing fleet reliability, reducing operational costs, decreasing maintenance resources, and increasing maintenance utilization.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational allocation of the fleet of vehicles includes incorporating prognostic maintenance requirements.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein incorporating prognostic maintenance requirements includes historical and statistical information to predict at least one of when maintenance needs to be performed on a vehicle and when a component failure is expected for a vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the schedule includes assessing maintenance decision criteria and mission decision criteria.

11. The method of claim 1O, wherein the maintenance decision criteria and the mission decision criteria include at least one of operational risk, mission success rates, and resource utilization levels.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the maintenance decision criteria and the mission decision criteria include user interaction to modify the allocation of a vehicle.

13. A method to schedule missions and maintenance of a fleet of vehicles, comprising:

receiving data from the fleet of vehicles for missions and maintenance activity and requirements;

generating at least one prognostic indicator from the received data for missions and maintenance of the fleet of vehicles;

determining at least one decision criteria for missions and maintenance of the fleet of vehicles;

providing a mission and maintenance allocation of the fleet of vehicles based on the received data, the at least one prognostic indicator, and the at least one decision criteria;

determining an alternative allocation of the mission and maintenance allocation of the fleet of vehicles to at least one of increase fleet reliability and reduce operational costs; and

generating a schedule for the alternative mission and maintenance allocation of the fleet of vehicles.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the decision criteria includes user interaction to modify at least one of a mission allocation and a maintenance allocation of a vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of maintenance and mission decision criteria include operational risk, mission success rates, and resource utilization levels.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the simulated mission and maintenance allocation includes system health operations analysis of the fleet of vehicles.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein determining decision criteria for missions and maintenance of a fleet of vehicles includes at least one of fault forwarding, fix or fly decisions, and condition-based maintenance.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the simulated mission and maintenance allocation includes production processes and metrics, mission processes and metrics, maintenance processes and metrics, command and control processes and metrics, and fleet management processes and metrics.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the alternative mission and maintenance allocation of a fleet of vehicles includes at least one of increasing fleet reliability, reducing operational costs, decreasing maintenance resources, and increasing maintenance utilization.

20. A computer-based system for providing a schedule of operations and maintenance for a fleet of vehicles, comprising:

an input component configured to receive data from the fleet of vehicles for missions and maintenance activity and requirements;

a processor component configured to

generate a prognostic and system heath management indicator from received data for missions and maintenance of the fleet of vehicles;

generate a decision criteria for missions and maintenance of the fleet of vehicles including at least one of condition-based maintenance and fix or fly decisions;

provide a mission and maintenance allocation of the fleet of vehicles utilizing received data, generated prognostic indicators, and determined decision criteria;

determine an alternative allocation of the mission and maintenance allocation of the fleet of vehicles, the alternative allocation generated to at least one of increase fleet reliability and reduce operational costs in comparison with the mission and maintenance allocation; and

generate a schedule for the alternative allocation of the fleet of vehicles.