System and method for monitoring completed manufacturing operations

• US 9,256,220 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Coffland, Donald, Tice, Russell N., Mally, Sujith
• Primary Examiner(s): SHECHTMAN, SEAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/674,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/066 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/14 Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1425 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41875 characterised by quality surveillance of production
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method and system comprise a tool, a number of radios, and a processor. The tool has a sensor and a wireless transmitter, and is configured to perform an operation on an area. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a signal comprising sensor data upon completion of the operation. The number of radios is configured to generate location measurements using the signal. The processor is configured to identify a location of the area using the location measurements and generate an indication of completion of the operation.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a tool configured to perform an operation on an area, the tool comprising a first wireless transmitter and a second wireless transmitter, the first wireless transmitter transmitting a first signal comprising sensor data upon completion of the operation, and the second wireless transmitter transmitting a second signal upon completion of the operation;

a number of radios configured to generate first location measurements using the first signal and second location measurements using the second signal, wherein the first location measurements comprise a first angle of arrival of the first signal and a first time of arrival of the first signal and the second location measurements comprise a second angle of arrival of the second signal and a second time of arrival of the second signal; and

a processor identifying a position of the tool using the first location measurements and thereby locating a location of the area, identifying an orientation of the tool using the first location measurements and the second location measurements, and generating an indication of completion of the operation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises:

an indicator configured to indicate the generation of the indication of completion of the operation and at least one of completion of the operation on the area, receipt of the first signal, identification of the location of the first wireless transmitter, and identification of the location of the area.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises:

a trigger circuit configured to trigger the first wireless transmitter and the second wireless transmitter to transmit as the tool begins the operation on the area.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a number of areas including the area, wherein a number of locations for the number of radios is selected such that that each of the areas in the number of areas is within line-of-sight of at least two radios in the number of radios.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a beacon signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless transmitter is configured to transmit ultra wide band pulse signals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first location measurements further comprise a first time difference of arrival and the second location measurements further comprise a second time difference of arrival.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to convert the location of the area in an object space to a corresponding location in an image coordinate system, and wherein the indication of completion of the operation comprises identifying completion of the operation in an image using the location in the image coordinate system.

9. A method for directing manufacturing operations comprising:

receiving, by a computer system, a first signal from a first wireless transmitter associated with a tool upon completion of an operation on an area using the tool, the signal comprising sensor data;

generating, by the computer system, first location measurements from the first signal, wherein the first location measurements comprise a first angle of arrival of the first signal and a first time of arrival of the first signal;

receiving, by the computer system, a second signal from a second wireless transmitter associated with the tool upon completion of the operation on the area using the tool;

generating, by the computer system, second location measurements from the second signal, wherein the second location measurements comprise a second angle of arrival of the second signal and a second time of arrival of the second signal;

identifying, by the computer system, a location of the first wireless transmitter in an object space using the first location measurements and thereby locating a position of the area in the object space;

identifying, by the computer system, an orientation of the tool in the object space using the first location measurements and the second location measurements;

identifying, by the computer system, a location of the area in an image coordinate system using the location of the wireless transmitter in the object space; and

indicating, by the computer system, completion of the operation in an image using the location of the area in the image coordinate system.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a number of signals from the first wireless transmitter and the second wireless transmitter during the operation; and

identifying a characteristic of the operation from the number of signals.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the characteristic of the operation comprises at least one of:

direction of movement, speed of movement, consistency of operation, and type of operation.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein indicating completion of the operation in an image comprises displaying a representation of the area within the image representing the object space.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

indicating, at the tool, completion of the operation on the area, and at least one of receipt of the signal, determination of the location of the wireless transmitter in the object space, identification of the location of the area in the image coordinate system, and indication of completion of the operation in the image.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first location measurements further comprise a first time difference of arrival and the second location measurements further comprise a second time difference of arrival.

15. A method for directing manufacturing operations comprising:

receiving, by a computer system, a number of signals from a first wireless transmitter and a second wireless transmitter associated with a tool, the number of signals transmitted during an operation on an area using the tool, the number of signals including at least one signal from the first wireless transmitter and at least one signal from the second wireless transmitter;

generating, by the computer system, location measurements from the number of signals, wherein the location measurements comprise an angle of arrival of the number of signals and a time of arrival of the number of signals;

identifying, by the computer system, a position of the tool in an object space using the location measurements and thereby locating a location of the area;

converting, by the computer system, the location of the area in the object space to a location in an image coordinate system; and

directing, by the computer system, manufacturing operations on the area based on the location in the image coordinate system.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving a completion signal identifying completion of the operation;

responsive to receipt of the completion signal, indicating completion of the operation in an image using the image coordinate system.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining a characteristic of the operation from the number of signals.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein indicating completion of the operation in an image comprises displaying a representation of the area within an image representing the object space.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

indicating, at the tool, completion of the operation on the area and at least one of receipt of the completion signal, determination of the location of the area in the object space, and identification of completion of the operation in the image.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first wireless transmitter and the second wireless transmitter are configured to transmit ultra wide band pulse signals.

21. A system comprising:

a number of radios configured;

to generate location measurements using a first signal transmitted by a first wireless transmitter of a tool and a second signal transmitted by a second wireless transmitter of the tool, wherein the tool is configured to perform an operation on an area, wherein the location measurements comprise an angle of arrival of the first signal, a time of arrival of the first signal, an angle of arrival of the second signal, and a time of arrival of the second signal; and

a processor configured;

to identify a position and orientation of the tool using the location measurements and thereby locating the location of the area, and to generate an indication of completion of the operation.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

the tool, the tool having a sensor, the first wireless transmitter configured to transmit a signal comprising sensor data upon completion of the operation.