Physical Finite Element Model

• US 20090189784A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lindgren, Lawrence S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,643,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 15/06 for measuring the deformation in a solid
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0083 by measuring variation of impedance, e.g. resistance, capacitance, induction
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0091 by using electromagnetic excitation or detection

Abstract

a plurality of RFIDs is installed on aircraft or other structure. The RFIDs can query one another upon original installation and in response to predetermined event detection, and determine their relative locations within a mesh. The determined location data and other information are stored within the respect memories of the RFIDs. The stored data can be later accessed and used in analyzing damage or structural failure of the aircraft. Corrective measures are thus expedited because before-and-after structural comparisons can be readily made, with or without reference to original engineering data for the aircraft.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a structure; and

a plurality of radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) supported by the structure, at least one of the RFIDs configured to determine a designation and a location of at least one other RFID proximate thereto by way of wireless signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one RFID is further configured such that the determined location of the at least one other RFID is relative to the at least one RFID making the determination.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one RFID includes a memory, the at least one RFID further configured to store the designation and location of the at least one other RFID in the memory.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one RFID includes a memory, the at least one RFID further configured to:

determine a new location of at least one other RFID with respect to a previously determined location of the at least one other RFID; and

store the new location of the at least one other RFID in the memory.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the at least one RFID is further configured to perform the determining a new location of the at least one other RFID in response to a predetermined event.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one RFID is further configured to communicate the designation and location of the at least one other RFID to an external entity by way of wireless signals.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each RFID of the plurality of RFIDs is supported by an element of the structure.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the structure is of an aircraft.

9. An aircraft including one or more structural elements, the aircraft further comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) supported at respective locations by the one or more structural elements, the plurality of RFIDs defining respective nodes of a mesh, at least one of the RFIDs including a memory and configured to;

determine a designation and a location of at least one other RFID proximate thereto within the mesh by way of wireless signals;

store the designation and the location of the at least one other RFID in the memory; and

transmit at least some information stored in the memory by way of wireless signals.

10. The aircraft of claim 9 wherein the at least one RFID is further configured to:

detect a predetermined event;

determine a new location of at least one other RFID proximate thereto within the mesh in response to the predetermined event; and

store the new location of the at least one other RFID in the memory.

11. The aircraft of claim 9 wherein the location of the at least one other RFID is relative to the at least one RFID making the determination.

12. The aircraft of claim 9, and further comprising a computer resource of the aircraft, wherein the at least one RFID is further configured to communicate at least some content stored in the memory to the computer resource by way of wireless signals in response to a predetermined event.

13. The aircraft of claim 9 wherein:

at least one RFID is supported at an origin reference location within the mesh; and

at least one other RFID is supported at a location relative to the origin reference location.

14. The aircraft of claim 9 wherein each RFID of the plurality of RFIDs includes a memory configured to store one or more of the following:

a unique designation of the RFID;

a designation of the aircraft supporting the RFID;

a designation of a structural element of the aircraft supporting the RFID;

a material type of the structural element of the aircraft supporting the RFID;

or

a date of installation of the RFID within the aircraft.

15. A method, comprising:

providing first and second radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs), the first RFID including a memory;

determining a designation and a location of the second RFID by way of wireless signals, the determining performed by the first RFID; and

storing the designation and the location of the second RFID in the memory of the first RFID.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting a predetermined event using the first RFID;

determining a new location of the second RFID with respect to a previously determined location of the second RFID in response to the predetermined event; and

storing the new location of the second RFID in the memory of the first RFID.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined event includes:

detection of a mechanical shock by the first RFID;

detection of a change in location of the second RFID with respect to a previously determined location of the second RFID;

or

querying the first RFID by way of wireless signals.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

supporting the first RFID on a structure element of an entity;

communicating other information to the first RFID; and

storing the other information in the memory of the first RFID, the other information including;

a unique designation of the first RFID;

a designation of the entity;

a designation of the structural element of the entity;

a material type of the structural element of the entity;

or

a date of installation of the first RFID on the structural element of the entity.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting at least some information stored in the memory of the first RFID by way of wireless signals.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining a designation and a location of the first RFID by way of wireless signals, the determining performed by the second RFID; and

storing the designation and the location of the first RFID within the memory of the second RFID.