System and method allowing for an integrated flight loads balancing process

• US 6,871,123 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Shimel, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US10/761,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/7, 701/10, 701/14, 701/1, 244/1.R, 244/75.R
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/16 actuated automatically, e.g. responsive to gust detectors

Abstract

A system allowing for an integrated flight loads balancing process at one or more time instances of a flight maneuver of an aircraft includes a processor and a plurality of resources. Additionally, the system includes a resource integration program that is executable by the processor. Upon execution by the processor, the resource integration program operates to integrate the plurality of resources so that the integrated resources are accessible to the system while balancing the flight loads at the one or more time instances.

Claims

1. A resource integration program emdodied in a computer readable media comprising:

a plurality of inputs for enabling flight load information to be received by the program; and

a module for integrating a plurality of flight load related resources, in connection with the inputs, to generate useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one specific time during a flight of a mobile platform;

wherein the program, when generating the useful information accesses at least one or more of;

simulation data;

computational fluid dynamics data;

wind tunnel test data;

or

a combination thereof.

2. The program of claim 1, wherein the program operates to generate useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one other specific time during the flight of the mobile platform without further user intervention being required.

3. The program of claim 1, wherein the program includes a module for using at least one user input to enable a user to input information for use in generating said useful information for balancing said flight loads.

4. The program of claim 3, wherein the at least one user input comprises a designation of at least one of the plurality of flight load related resources.

5. The program of claim 3, wherein the at least one user input comprises a designation of the at least one specific time.

6. The program of claim 3, wherein the module for using at least one user input generates at least one interactive screen.

7. The program of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flight load related resources comprises a plurality of information streams.

33. The program of claim 1, wherein the simulation data comprises computerized flight simulation data.

34. The program of claim 1, wherein the program accesses actual flight conditions at the at least one specific time when generating the useful information.

8. A resource integration program emdodied in a computer readable media comprising:

a plurality of inputs for enabling flight load information to be received by the program;

a module for integrating a plurality of flight load related resources, in connection with the inputs, to generate useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one specific time during a flight of a mobile platform; and

wherein the program accesses simulation data and computational fluid dynamics data when generating the useful information.

9. A system comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of flight load related resources;

a plurality of inputs for enabling flight load information to be received by the processor; and

a resource integration program executable by the processor for integrating the plurality of flight load related resources, in connection with the inputs, to generate useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one specific time during a flight of a mobile platforms;

wherein the system, when generating the useful information, accesses at least one or more of;

simulation data;

computational fluid dynamics data;

wind tunnel test data;

or

a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the program operates to generate useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one other specific time during the flight of the mobile platform without further user intervention being required.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a module for using at least one user input to enable a user to input information for use in generating said useful information for balancing said flight loads.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one user input comprises a designation of at least one of the plurality of flight load related resources.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one user input comprises a designation of the at least one specific time.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the module for using at least one user input generates at least one interactive screen.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of flight load related resources comprises a plurality of information streams.

35. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of flight load related resources comprises at least one or more of a data resource, a software resource, and a data resource created by a software resource.

36. The system of claim 9, wherein the simulation data comprises computerized flight simulation data.

37. The system of claim 9, wherein the system accesses actual flight conditions at the at least one specific time when generating the useful information.

16. A system comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of flight load related resources;

a plurality of inputs for enabling flight load information to be received by the processor; and

a resource integration program executable by the processor for integrating the plurality of flight load related resources, in connection with the inputs, to generate useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one specific time during a flight of a mobile platform;

wherein the system accesses simulation data and computational fluid dynamics data when generating the useful information.

17. An interface comprising:

means for enabling at least one input for enabling flight load information to be received by the interface; and

means for integrating a plurality of flight load related resources, in connection with the input, to generate useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one specific time during a flight of a mobile platform;

wherein the interface, when generating the useful information, accesses at least one or more of;

simulation data;

computational fluid dynamics data;

wind tunnel test data;

or

a combination thereof.

18. The interface of claim 17, further comprising means for generating useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one other specific time during the flight of the mobile platform without further user intervention being required.

19. The interface of claim 17, further comprising means for using at least one user input to enable a user to input information for use in generating said useful information for balancing said flight loads.

20. The interface of claim 19, wherein the at least one user input comprises a designation of at least one of the plurality of flight load related resources.

21. The interface of claim 19, wherein the at least one user input comprises a designation of at least one specific time.

22. The interface of claim 19, wherein the means for using at least one user input comprises means for generating at least one interactive screen.

23. The interface of claim 17, wherein the plurality of flight load related resources comprises a plurality of information streams.

38. The interface of claim 17, wherein the simulation data comprises computerized flight simulation data.

39. The interface of claim 17, wherein the interface accesses actual flight conditions loads at the at least one specific time when generating the useful information.

24. A method comprising:

integrating a plurality of flight load related resources;

said flight load related resources using flight load information to generate useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one specific time during a flight of a mobile platform; and

accessing at least one or more of simulation data, computational fluid dynamics data, wind tunnel test data, or a combination thereof, to generate the useful information.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising using said flight load related resources to generate the useful information.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the method comprises using at least one user input to enable a user to input information for use in balancing said flight loads.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the information input by the user comprises designation of at least one of the plurality of flight load related resources.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the information input by the user comprises designation of the at least one specific time.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising enabling the balancing of flight loads at at least one other specific time during the flight of the mobile platform without further user intervention being required.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising analyzing balanced flight loads to determine at least one critical load point during the flight of the mobile platform.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of flight load related resources comprises a plurality of information streams.

40. The method of claim 24, wherein the simulation data comprises computerized flight simulation data.

41. The method of claim 24, further comprising accessing actual flight conditions at the at least one specific time when generating the useful information.

42. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

using the computational fluid dynamics data to create a pressure distribution across a computerized model of the mobile platform;

adjusting the pressure distribution to more closely correspond with the wind tunnel test data;

converting pressures from the adjusted pressure distribution to forces;

mapping the forces to a structural finite element model of the mobile platform;

accessing mass data and engine loads data; and

balancing the forces, engine loads data, and mass data to balance the flight loads and trim the mobile platform at the at least one specific time.

26. A method comprising:

integrating a plurality of flight load related resources;

said flight load related resources capable of using flight load information to generate useful information for balancing flight loads at at least one specific time during a flight of a mobile platform; and

accessing simulation data and computational fluid dynamics data to generate the useful information.