Methods and systems for automated vehicle asset tracking

• US 9,533,773 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Jang, Jung Soon, Hester, Dorina L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US13/459,668
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/44 inspection

Abstract

Methods and systems for automated asset tracking within an aircraft are disclosed. In one example, a method for use in automated tracking of assets in a vehicle utilizing a robotic vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving inspection data concerning the vehicle and the assets. A navigation path is generated thorough the vehicle. The robotic vehicle traverses the navigation path and locates at least one asset with the vehicle along the navigation path. An identification of the asset located within the vehicle is transmitted to a remote computing device and stored in a database associated with the remote computing device.

Claims

1. A method for use in automated tracking of assets in an inspected vehicle utilizing a robotic vehicle, said method comprising:

receiving, by the robotic vehicle, inspection data concerning the inspected vehicle and the assets, wherein the inspection data includes;

a map of the inspected vehicle;

identification of a plurality of assets expected to be in the inspected vehicle; and

respective expected locations within the inspected vehicle of the plurality of assets;

generating, by the robotic vehicle, a navigation path through the inspected vehicle based on the map of the inspected vehicle, the identification of the plurality of assets, and the respective expected locations of the plurality of assets, wherein the navigation path facilitates inspection of each of the respective expected locations of the plurality of assets;

traversing, by the robotic vehicle, the navigation path;

locating, by the robotic vehicle, at least one asset within the inspected vehicle along the navigation path;

receiving maintenance data for the at least one asset; and

transmitting, by the robotic vehicle, an identification of the at least one asset located within the inspected vehicle to a remote computing device for storage in a database associated with the remote computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said locating at least one asset within the inspected vehicle along the navigation path comprises locating at least one asset within the inspected vehicle using radio frequency identification (RFID).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if all assets expected to be in the inspected vehicle have been located.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the at least one asset that was located is an expected asset.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said determining if the at least one asset that was located is an expected asset comprises determining if the at least one asset is of a same type of asset as the expected asset.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said determining if the at least one asset that was located is an expected asset comprises determining if the at least one asset is of a same type of asset as the expected asset and has a same particular identification as the expected asset.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an inspection report identifying the at least one asset located within the inspected vehicle, and wherein storing the identification of the at least one asset in a database associated with the remote computing device comprises storing the inspection report in the database.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said generating an inspection report comprises generating an inspection report listing all of a plurality of assets expected to be located within the inspected vehicle, and identifying which of the plurality of assets were located within the inspected vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said generating an inspection report comprises generating an inspection report identifying a location within the inspected vehicle at which each of the plurality of assets were located within the inspected vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the inspection data including the map of the inspected vehicle further comprises receiving a predetermined map of the inspected vehicle.

11. A system for tracking assets in an inspected vehicle, said system comprising:

a robotic vehicle comprising;

a navigation system;

an asset location system;

a communications interface; and

a computing device coupled to the navigation system, the asset location system, and the communications interface, said computing device programmed to;

receive inspection data concerning the inspected vehicle and assets via the communications interface, wherein the inspection data includes;

a map of the inspected vehicle;

identification of a plurality of assets expected to be in the inspected vehicle; and

respective expected locations within the inspected vehicle of the plurality of assets;

generate a navigation path through the inspected vehicle based on the map of the inspected vehicle, the identification of the plurality of assets, and the respective expected locations of the plurality of assets, wherein the navigation path facilitates inspection of each of the respective expected locations of the plurality of assets;

traverse the navigation path through the inspected vehicle using the navigation system;

locate at least one asset within the inspected vehicle along the navigation path using the asset location system;

receive maintenance data for the at least one asset; and

transmit an identification of the at least one asset located within the inspected vehicle to a remote computing device using the communications interface for storage in a database associated with the remote computing device.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising the remote computing device, the remote computing device programmed to transmit the inspection data to said robotic vehicle via the communications interface and receive the identification of the at least one asset from said robotic vehicle via the communications interface.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the asset location system comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver configured to transmit radio frequency signals and receive a response from a response from an RFID tag attached to each of the assets.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the communications interface comprises a wireless network communication transceiver.

15. A robotic vehicle for use in automated tracking of assets in an inspected vehicle, said robotic vehicle comprising:

a robotic platform configured to permit the robotic vehicle to move within an environment;

a navigation system mounted to said robotic platform to guide said robotic platform within the inspected vehicle;

an asset identification system mounted to said robotic platform to identify a plurality of assets within the inspected vehicle;

a communications interface mounted to said robotic platform for communicating with a remote computing device; and

a computing device mounted to said robotic platform and coupled to said navigation system, said asset identification system, and said communications interface, said computing device programmed to;

generate a navigation path through the inspected vehicle based on a map of the inspected vehicle, identification of the plurality of assets expected to be in the inspected vehicle, and respective expected locations within the inspected vehicle of the plurality of assets, wherein the navigation path facilitates inspection of each of the respective expected locations of the plurality of assets,

cause said robotic platform to navigate the navigation path through the inspected vehicle,

use said identification system to identify at least one asset of the plurality of assets,

receiving maintenance data for the at least one asset, and

use said communications interface to transmit an identification of the at least one asset to the remote computing device for storage in a database associated with the remote computing device.

16. The robotic vehicle of claim 15, wherein said asset identification system comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver configured to transmit radio frequency signals and receive a response from a response from an RFID tag attached to each of the assets.

17. The robotic vehicle of claim 15, wherein said communications interface comprises a wireless network communication transceiver.

18. The robotic vehicle of claim 15, wherein said navigation system comprises at least one exteroreceptive sensor for sensing an environment around said robotic vehicle.

19. The robotic vehicle of claim 15, wherein said computing device is further programmed to generate an inspection report indicating which assets were identified in the inspected vehicle for storage in the database associated with the remote computing device.