The Boeing Company

Kevin L Swearingen

Jeanne C Maggiore

David Allan Followell

Bradley James Mitchell

Stephen G Dame

Kirby Joe Keller

Dane Joe Grgas

Jeffrey Michael Roach

James Joseph Sheahan, Jr

Scott Edwin Black

Wayne R Majkowski

Stanley C Ofsthun

Erik B Fries

Scott Hathaway

Belma A Johnson

James J Sheahan

A method is provided for use in maintenance of a vehicle. The method includes an onboard computer including an onboard reasoner diagnosing a failure mode onboard the vehicle using an onboard diagnostic model. The onboard reasoner further determines a service recommendation of a service action to address the failure mode. The method also includes an off-board computer including an off-board copy of the onboard reasoner receiving a measure of fix effectivity of the service action as performed to address the failure mode. The off-board copy diagnoses the failure mode or an alternate failure mode, from the measure of fix effectivity of the service action, and using an off-board copy of the onboard diagnostic model. Responsive to diagnosis of the alternate failure mode, the off-board copy determines a maintenance recommendation of a maintenance action to address the alternate failure mode, and generating a maintenance message including the maintenance recommendation.

Repeated diagnostic reasoner use throughout service and maintenance of a vehicle

Methods and systems for providing remote virtual views to an occupant of a structure are disclosed. In one example, a method includes capturing, by a plurality of cameras, images external to a structure. A distribution device receives images from the plurality of cameras. The distribution device selectively transmits the images to at least one display device within the structure. The at least on display device receives the images and displays the images on an interior surface of the structure.

Methods and systems for providing a remote virtual view

Systems and methods are provided for retrieving values from a data bus of a vehicle. One illustrative method includes applying values from sensors at a vehicle to addresses of a data bus at the vehicle, retrieving values from the addresses of the data bus based on an operational state of the vehicle, and determining that the vehicle has entered another operational state. The method further includes loading a second sampling scheme corresponding with the other operational state, and retrieving values from an address of the data bus at a new rate corresponding with the other operational state.

Vehicle monitoring system that dynamically varies data acquisition

A method for health monitoring of a damper associated with a landing gear is described which includes receiving sensor data from a pressure transducer and an accelerometer and optionally a thermal sensor operably mounted on or near the damper, a computer system, and applying, using the computer system, a diagnostic algorithm to the sensor data to induce and predict the health of the damper.

Systems and methods for monitoring health of vibration damping components

A method for monitoring systems of a vehicle may include determining relevant information used by at least one of a plurality of wireless networked computers based on at least a function performed by the at least one wireless networked computer with respect to an associated one of a multiplicity of components of the systems of the vehicle. The method may also include formulating a customized information message for the at least one of the plurality of wireless networked computers based on at least the relevant information used and the function performed by the at least one wireless networked computer. The method may further include transmitting the customized information message to the at least one of the plurality of wireless networked computers.

Monitoring systems of a vehicle by generating and transmitting customized information messages to wireless networked computers

A method includes receiving first vehicle data from a sensor on a vehicle at one or more processors executing a first software module. The method includes determining a risk value, a confidence value associated with whether the first vehicle data matches a validated vehicle state, and a benefit value associated with providing the first vehicle data to a second software module. The method includes calculating a health score associated with the first vehicle data based on the risk value, the confidence value, and the benefit value. The method includes, in response to the health score meeting a threshold value, determining whether the first vehicle data is internally consistent, externally consistent, and stable over time. The method further includes, in response to the first vehicle data being internally consistent, externally consistent, and stable over time, providing the first vehicle data to a vehicle flight control system.

Vehicle health management systems and methods

Systems and methods for managing the exchange of vehicle information between software modules with different safety importance. In one embodiment, a vehicle health management system includes a mission critical software module, a flight critical software module and a gatekeeper. The mission critical software module receives vehicle state information and provides it to the flight critical software module if the gatekeeper confirms the validity of the vehicle information.

A method and apparatus are present for monitoring a runway. Data is received about the runway from a number of sensors associated with an aircraft while the aircraft performs an operation on the runway. A number of conditions are identified for the runway using the data received from the number of sensors.

Runway condition monitoring

Apparatus and methods for assessing component health for reconfigurable control are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of operating a product includes monitoring a first diagnostic information of a component of the product, and monitoring a second diagnostic information of a system that includes the component. The first and second diagnostic informations are then combined, and based at least partially on the combined first and second diagnostic information at least one of the component and the system are reconfigured.

Component health assessment for reconfigurable control

A system and method for monitoring freeplay within an actuator is provided. In accordance with various embodiments, the method includes collecting a plurality of actuator parameter data sets during a predetermined period. During the predetermined time period the actuator drive motor is commanded to extend and retract an actuator output ram operably connected to a movable component of a structural system such as a mobile platform. The method additionally includes selectively isolating various sets of the plurality of actuator parameter data sets that meet specific predetermined criterion. Furthermore, the method includes computing an amount of freeplay value within the actuator based on the isolated actuator parameter data sets.

Growing community of inventors

St. Charles, MO, United States of America

Kevin L Swearingen