Object Visualization System

• US 20140245206A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Senesac, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,061,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for visually querying an aircraft. A model is identified for the aircraft. Sections of the aircraft are displayed in a graphical user interface on a display device. The sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft. The sections are selectable.

Claims

1. A method for visually querying an aircraft, the method comprising:

identifying a model for the aircraft; and

displaying sections of the aircraft in a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft and wherein the sections are selectable.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a selection of a section from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface;

identifying a volume in the model corresponding to the section selected from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface; and

displaying the section in the graphical user interface using the volume in the model identified for the section selected.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the volume is identified from a sectional view of the aircraft and volume identifiers for the sectional view.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a volume identifier in the volume identifiers comprises a group of coordinates defining the volume in the model.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the section has a hotspot associated with the volume identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sections are displayed in an exploded view.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sections are displayed in a sectional view of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the model for the aircraft comprises:

displaying a group of buildings in a manufacturing facility; and

identifying the model for the aircraft from a selection of a building in the group of buildings in the manufacturing facility.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying positions for assembly of the aircraft; and

identifying the sections of the aircraft from a selection of a position of the aircraft from the positions displayed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sections of the aircraft in the position are the sections manufactured at the position selected.

11. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

managing assembly of the aircraft based on the section displayed.

12. A method for visually querying an object, the method comprising:

identifying the object;

identifying a model for the object; and

displaying sections of an aircraft in a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft and wherein the sections are selectable.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

detecting a selection of a section from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface;

identifying a volume in the model corresponding to the section selected from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface; and

displaying the section in the graphical user interface using the volume in the model identified for the section selected.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the volume is identified from a sectional view of the aircraft and volume identifiers for the sectional view.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a volume identifier in the volume identifiers comprises a group of coordinates defining the volume in the model.

16. An apparatus comprising:

an object manager configured to identify a model for an aircraft and display sections of the aircraft in a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft and wherein the sections are selectable.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the object manager is further configured to detect a selection of a section from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface;

identify a volume in the model corresponding to the section selected from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface; and

display the section in the graphical user interface using the volume in the model identified for the section selected.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the volume is identified from a sectional view of the aircraft and volume identifiers for the sectional view.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a volume identifier in the volume identifiers comprises a group of coordinates defining the volume in the model.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the section has a hotspot associated with the volume identifier.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sections are displayed in an exploded view.

22. A manufacturing system comprising:

manufacturing equipment configured to manufacture an aircraft;

a control system configured to control manufacturing of the aircraft; and

an object manager in the control system, wherein the object manager is configured to identify a model for an aircraft and to display sections of the aircraft in a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft and wherein the sections are selectable.