Constrained cash computing system to optimally schedule aircraft repair capacity with closed loop dynamic physical state and asset utilization attainment control

• US 10,318,903 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Digital Holdings LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Christopher Donald, Toledano, David S., Perez, Victor Manuel, Marchment, Garry, Mathew, Reejo, Umang, Nitish, Rasheed, Adam, Thanos, Aristotelis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Alan S
• Application Number:
  US15/346,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20170323403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 705 711- 742
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/14 Travel agencies
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A method of providing a first set of computer systems with access to a recommendation pertaining to operation of one or more assets based on the one or more assets being in revenue service or in repair is disclosed. Operations data and inspection data is collected at the first set of computer systems. The operations data and inspection data pertains to operating asset states of one or more fleets of aircraft over a time period. The operations data and the inspection data is stored in one or more databases of a second set of computer systems. Assumptions of control input values are derived for use by the first set of computer systems based on the operations data and the inspection data. A financial objective and constraints analysis is performed with a simulation system for one or more assets of the one or more fleets of aircraft. The cost savings analysis includes identifying a modification of at least one of a set of the control input values. An estimated reduction of forecast error related to operating and service costs is computed for the one or more assets over one or more time periods. The identifying is based on comparisons of a first subset of the operations data and the inspection data with a second subset of the operations data and the inspection data. The first set of computer systems is provided with access to the recommendation pertaining to operation of the one or more assets.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a first set of computer systems, the first set of computer system deployed in an aircraft service provider cluster, the first set of computer systems communicatively coupled to a second set of computer systems, the second set of computer systems deployed in each of a plurality of aircraft services customer clusters, incorporating one or more optimization modules, the one or more optimization modules configuring one or more processors of the first set of computer systems to perform control operations, the control operations including;

collecting operations data and inspection data pertaining to the operating asset states of one or more fleets of aircraft over a time period, the operations data and the inspection data stored in one or more databases of the second set of computer systems, the operations data and the inspection data including values corresponding to fields in the one or more databases, the fields representing at least one of policy data pertaining to one or more operations policies, flight schedule data pertaining to one or more flight schedules, and operating cost data pertaining to operating costs associated with the one or more fleets of aircraft and dates of inspections, types of inspections, and results of inspections conducted with respect to the one or more fleets of aircraft;

deriving assumptions of control input values for use by the first set of computer systems based on the operations data and the inspection data;

performing a financial objective and constraints analysis with a simulation system for one or more assets of the one or more fleets of aircraft, the cost savings analysis including identifying a modification of at least one of a set of the control input values;

computing an estimated reduction of forecast error related to operating and service costs for the one or more assets over one or more time periods, the identifying based on comparisons of a first subset of the operations data and the inspection data with a second subset of the operations data and the inspection data; and

providing the first set of computer systems with access to a recommendation pertaining to operation of the one or more assets based on the one or more assets being in revenue service or in repair;

wherein the recommendation is physically implemented at or concerning a selected one of the one or more assets, the physical implementation of the recommendation causing one or more of;

a change of operational state or condition of the selected asset, a timing of a repair of the selected asset at a repair facility, or a change in a timing of operational movement of the asset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recommendation pertains to at least one of schedule, parts stocking quantity, part type, and inspection capability corresponding to a service shop.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operations policies include a plurality of flight operations policies, the plurality of flight operations policies including a maximum percentage of engine thrust to be used at takeoff, climbing, or cruising for each aircraft in each fleet of aircraft, computed through simulated future time and replicated, said replications being at least one of a specified quantity of computing cycles through the simulated future events or set to replicate until such time as the rate of statistical confidence increases to a designated level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a computing capability is dynamically allocated to more than one processor according to an estimate of an attainment of a specific confidence for the recommendation so as to complete the computing in a specified duration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating costs include at least one of fuel costs and maintenance costs and the cost savings analysis includes associating the one or more flight schedules and the one or more operations policies with the at least one of the fuel costs and maintenance costs, comparing said fuel and maintenance costs to one or more system control goal and dynamically reducing or increasing the granularity of simulated time step, input assumption value or number of processors.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the at least one of the aircraft customer computer systems with access to the recommendation is based on an aircraft service customer entering into a maintenance contract with an aircraft service provider with respect to maintenance of the one aircraft.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the cost savings analysis further includes identifying the modification based on a reduction of maintenance costs for the aircraft over the time period.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the maintenance costs include inventory costs to be borne solely by an aircraft services provider pursuant to a maintenance contract between the aircraft service provider and the aircraft service customer and the operations costs include costs that are to be borne solely by the aircraft service customer pursuant to the maintenance contract.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the at least one of the aircraft service customer computer system with access to the recommendation does not include providing the aircraft service customer computer system with access to a subset of the operations data that was collected from fleets of aircraft for which the aircraft service customer does not have an ownership interest.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the identifying of the modification includes calculating an estimated state of one or more subsystems of the one aircraft as a function of a subset of the operations data and a subset of maintenance data corresponding to the one aircraft over the time period; and

the recommendation pertains to changing at least one of a sequence of duty, a maintenance scope, or an operating policy to achieve a probability of a future state of the one or more subsystems.

11. A system comprising:

a first set of computer systems, the first set of computer system deployed in an aircraft service provider cluster, the first set of computer systems communicatively coupled to a second set of computer systems, the second set of computer systems deployed in each of a plurality of aircraft services customer clusters

one or more optimization modules incorporated into the first set of computer systems, the one or more optimization modules configuring one or more processors of the first set of computer systems to perform control operations, the control operations including;

collecting operations data and inspection data pertaining to the operating asset states of one or more fleets of aircraft over a time period, the operations data and the inspection data stored in one or more databases of the second set of computer systems, the operations data and the inspection data including values corresponding to fields in the one or more databases, the fields representing at least one of policy data pertaining to one or more operations policies, flight schedule data pertaining to one or more flight schedules, and operating cost data pertaining to operating costs associated with the one or more fleets of aircraft and dates of inspections, types of inspections, and results of inspections conducted with respect to the one or more fleets of aircraft;

deriving assumptions of control input values for use by the first set of computer systems based on the operations data and the inspection data;

performing a financial objective and constraints analysis with a simulation system for one or more assets of the one or more fleets of aircraft, the cost savings analysis including identifying a modification of at least one of a set of the control input values;

computing an estimated reduction of forecast error related to operating and service costs for the one or more assets over one or more time periods, the identifying based on comparisons of a first subset of the operations data and the inspection data with a second subset of the operations data and the inspection data; and

providing the first set of computer systems with access to a recommendation pertaining to operation of the one or more assets based on the one or more assets being in revenue service or in repair;

wherein the recommendation is physically implemented at or concerning a selected one of the one or more assets, the physical implementation of the recommendation causing one or more of;

a change of operational state or condition of the selected asset, a timing of a repair of the selected asset at a repair facility, or a change in a timing of operational movement of the asset.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the recommendation pertains to at least one of schedule, parts stocking quantity, part type, and inspection capability corresponding to a service shop.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more operations policies include a plurality of flight operations policies, the plurality of flight operations policies including a maximum percentage of engine thrust to be used at takeoff, climbing, or cruising for each aircraft in each fleet of aircraft, computed through simulated future time and replicated, said replications being at least one of a specified quantity of computing cycles through the simulated future events or set to replicate until such time as the rate of statistical confidence increases to a designated level.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a computing capability is dynamically allocated to more than one processor according to an estimate of an attainment of a specific confidence for the recommendation so as to complete the computing in a specified duration.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the operating costs include at least one of fuel costs and maintenance costs and the cost savings analysis includes associating the one or more flight schedules and the one or more operations policies with the at least one of the fuel costs and maintenance costs, comparing said fuel and maintenance costs to one or more system control goal and dynamically reducing or increasing the granularity of simulated time step, input assumption value or number of processors.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the providing of the at least one of the aircraft customer computer systems with access to the recommendation is based on an aircraft service customer entering into a maintenance contract with an aircraft service provider with respect to maintenance of the one aircraft.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the performing of the cost savings analysis further includes identifying the modification based on a reduction of maintenance costs for the aircraft over the time period.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the maintenance costs include inventory costs to be borne solely by an aircraft services provider pursuant to a maintenance contract between the aircraft service provider and the aircraft service customer and the operations costs include costs that are to be borne solely by the aircraft service customer pursuant to the maintenance contract.

19. A non-transitory machine readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

collecting operations data and inspection data at a first set of computer system, the operations data and inspection data pertaining to operating asset states of one or more fleets of aircraft over a time period, the operations data and the inspection data stored in one or more databases of a second set of computer systems, the operations data and the inspection data including values corresponding to fields in the one or more databases, the fields representing at least one of policy data pertaining to one or more operations policies, flight schedule data pertaining to one or more flight schedules, and operating cost data pertaining to operating costs associated with the one or more fleets of aircraft and dates of inspections, types of inspections, and results of inspections conducted with respect to the one or more fleets of aircraft;

deriving assumptions of control input values for use by the first set of computer systems based on the operations data and the inspection data;

performing a financial objective and constraints analysis with a simulation system for one or more assets of the one or more fleets of aircraft, the cost savings analysis including identifying a modification of at least one of a set of the control input values;

computing an estimated reduction of forecast error related to operating and service costs for the one or more assets over one or more time periods, the identifying based on comparisons of a first subset of the operations data and the inspection data with a second subset of the operations data and the inspection data; and

providing the first set of computer systems with access to a recommendation pertaining to operation of the one or more assets based on the one or more assets being in revenue service or in repair;

wherein the recommendation is physically implemented at or concerning a selected one of the one or more assets, the physical implementation of the recommendation causing one or more of;

a change of operational state or condition of the selected asset, a timing of a repair of the selected asset at a repair facility, or a change in a timing of operational movement of the asset.

20. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein:

the identifying of the modification includes calculating an estimated state of one or more subsystems of the one aircraft as a function of a subset of the operations data and a subset of maintenance data corresponding to the one aircraft over the time period; and

the recommendation pertains to changing at least one of a sequence of duty, a maintenance scope, or an operating policy to achieve a probability of a future state of the one or more subsystems.