The Boeing Company

Fong Shi

Minas Hagop Tanielian

Dennis Gary Koshinz

Jonathan Martin Saint Clair

Ming Chen

Barbara A Capron

William D Sherman

Mark Richard Davis

Philip E Cassady

Lixin Cai

Kenneth G Voyce

Mark A Curry

Frank R Brogden

Victor S Starkovich

Mike Bemes

A system may include a camera module that may include a first infrared camera, a second infrared camera, and a visible light camera. The system may further include an autonomous vehicle that may include a vertically extendable arm attached to the camera module. The system may also include a processor configured to initiate movement of the autonomous vehicle around an aircraft according to a predetermined path, initiate a scan of an exterior surface of the aircraft using the first infrared camera, the second infrared camera, the visible light camera, or a combination thereof, determine whether a portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft is damaged based on the scan, and in response to the portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft being damaged, use the first infrared camera, the second infrared camera, and the visible light camera to generate a three-dimensional model of the portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft.

Automated assessment of aircraft structure damage

A system and a method for driving a fan of an engine of an aircraft, including an electric motor operatively coupled to a drive axle of the fan, and a control unit in communication with the electric motor. The control unit is configured to operate the electric motor to rotate the fan.

Systems and methods for driving fan blades of an engine

A system and a method include an engine having one or more vanes. An actuator is coupled to the one or more vanes. The actuator is configured to move the one or more vanes between different positions. A control unit is coupled to the actuator. The control unit is configured to operate the actuator to move the one or more vanes between the different positions. The control unit is disposed on or within the engine.

Systems and methods for controlling vanes of an engine of an aircraft

An example apparatus includes an interface to be electrically coupled between a heating element and a power supply, where the heating element associated with an external surface of a vehicle, and where the power supply is to provide power to the heating element. The interface includes a balanced current sensor to measure a differential between a first current of an electrical power line of the heating element and a second current of an electrical return line of the heating element, and a processor to compare the differential to at least one threshold to determine a condition of the heating element.

Methods and apparatus to detect deicing heater conditions

Systems and methods for measuring an operating current and an operating voltage of an inductive proximity sensor in an improved manner. The proposed method is to measure and process the sensing parameters in a ratiometric way. A proximity sensing electronics unit receives an input signal from a proximity sensor that was derived by dividing the sensor's current by the sensor's supply voltage which produces that operating current. The division result, i.e., the quotient, is properly scaled to represent the sensor's state. The circuitry ratiometrically determines its operation status by eliminating common mode effects and variations of sensor state thresholds, allowing additional sensing parameters and health status to be measured and monitored without extending the operational range of the sensor.

Method of ratiometric proximity sensing

A system and method includes a core network located on an aircraft and a gateway included with the core network. The gateway connects with at least two of a wireless link, an optical link, a wired link and a crew wireless link. The gateway is configured to switch between the wireless link, the optical link, the wired link and the crew wireless link to transfer data from the core network to a telecom service provider network, an airport service provider network and an airport infrastructure network based on availability of connectivity service and data transfer conditions.

System and method for connecting aircraft to networks on ground

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for communicating between an aircraft and a terminal when the aircraft is on the ground. The connection between the aircraft and the terminal is made over a ground power line while the aircraft is being supplied with power. The ground power line comprises one or more wires, which are typically unshielded and cause radio interference. At the transmitting end, multiple copies of the same signal offset in phase relative to one another over the ground power line. Each data stream is coupled to a respective wire in the ground power line. At the receiving end, the multiple copies of the signal are extracted from the respective wires of the ground power line and combined to generate a combined signal with improved signal-to-noise ratio. Radio interference is suppressed by transmitting the data streams in a phase offset manner so that the unwanted emissions cancel.

Communication of multiple data streams over ground power lines

A method and apparatus is provided for communicating data over a ground power line between a vehicle and a ground terminal. In one example, a first power unit detects a signal indicating connection between the first power unit and a remote power unit. Responsive to detecting the signal, one or more modems associated with the first power unit automatically establish a data connection with one or more remote modems associated with the remote power unit. After establishing the connection between the one or more modems in the first power unit and the one or more modems in the remote power unit, the one or more modems in the first power unit exchange data with the one or more modems in the remote power unit over the power line. In one example, the first power unit may comprise an onboard power unit in a vehicle (e.g., aircraft) and the remote power unit may comprise a ground power unit. Alternatively, the first power unit may comprise a ground power unit and the remote power unit may comprise in a vehicle (e.g., aircraft).

Communication between a vehicle and a ground terminal over a ground power line

A system and method for monitoring a critical component (e.g., an electrical deicing heater) on an aircraft. A first electrical current is input into the critical component, a second electrical current is returned from the critical component, and an electrical differential current of the critical component is detected. The electrical differential current is the difference between the first electrical current and the second electrical current. An electrical differential current signal is generated from the detected electrical differential current. The electrical differential current signal is compared to a differential current threshold, and precautionary action is triggered based on the comparison. A deterioration trend of the critical component is monitored by tracking variations in the electrical differential current of the critical component over time.

Early detection of faulty deicing heaters on wide-body aircraft

Disclosed are ways for wirelessly connecting an aircraft at an airport. For example, a method for wirelessly communicating with an aircraft may include determining a proximity of an aircraft of a directional antenna system for wireless communication, determining availability of the directional antenna system for wireless communication with the aircraft, selecting the directional antenna system based on the determined proximity and availability, and providing instructions for the directional antenna system to communicate with the aircraft.

Wirelessly connecting an aircraft at an airport

A system and method for analyzing aircraft operation and maintenance history in light of maintenance reports, aircraft type system failure history, health management reports, and aircraft exterior structural conditions to produce a real time recommendation regarding aircraft maintenance and dispatch. A visual inspection report is generated by capturing a real time image of an exterior of the aircraft, inverting the real time image, superimposing the real time image on a previous image of the aircraft exterior, and detecting any variation on the combination of superimposed inverted image on the previous image of the aircraft exterior. Aircraft type historical systems failure reports are analyzed to identify any predictive latent system failure of the aircraft based on the aircraft type historical systems failure report and aircraft operation history and maintenance history.

Aircraft maintenance and inspection with data analytics enhancement

Methods and apparatus to provide transient event protection for circuits are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first clamp circuit. The first power circuit provides a first reference voltage. The first clamp circuit directs energy from a signal node to the first power circuit in response to a transient resulting in a voltage at the signal node being lower than a second reference voltage. The apparatus also includes a second clamp circuit. The second clamp circuit includes a transistor. A collector terminal of the transistor is prevented from having a lower voltage than the second reference voltage. A second power circuit provides the second reference voltage, which is lower than the first reference voltage. The second clamp circuit directs energy from the signal node to the second power circuit in response to a transient resulting in the voltage at the signal node being higher than the first reference voltage.

Methods and apparatus to provide transient event protection for circuits

A method and apparatus for joining a first workpiece and a second workpiece. A layer of exothermic material is placed between the first workpiece and the second workpiece. A plurality of currents is applied to the layer of exothermic material in a plurality of locations and substantially at the same time such that an exothermic reaction occurs in the layer of exothermic material.

Method of bonding components to each other using exothermic reactions

A particular portable radio frequency identification (RFID) reader includes an active antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements to receive RFID signals from RFID devices. The antenna elements include control circuitry to control a beam pattern generated by the active antenna array. The portable RFID reader further includes sum circuitry and difference circuitry. The sum circuitry is operable to determine a sum signal by summing the RFID signals received by at least two of the plurality of antenna elements. The difference circuitry is operable to determine a difference signal between the RFID signals received by at least two of the plurality of antenna elements. The portable RFID reader also includes a controller to electronically steer the beam pattern and to determine a direction from the RFID reader to a particular RFID device.

Portable radio frequency identification (RFID) reader

A method and apparatus for steering a beam from a phased array antenna mounted on a mobile platform. Rate sensors mounted on the phased array antenna are used to update lower bandwidth data from the mobile platform, resulting in improved pointing performance.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Fong Shi