The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

William McGarry

James J Troy

Nikoli Prazak

Steven Malarkey

William Eric Ward

John Carney Gass

Kevin Puterbaugh

James Philip Parsons

Christopher Esposito

Michael Patrick Sciarra

Bruce Lydell Nelson

Katherine I Meza

Robert Brandt

Aaron A Dost

David Michael Roni

Robert S Van Den Berg

Todd J Sleeman

William J Brown

Jeffery A Bus

A computer-automated separation rules compliance method is disclosed. Separation rules that establish separation distance requirements between objects in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment are defined. Sample locations associated with at least some of the objects in the 3D virtual environment are specified. One or more of proximity and/or collision analysis is performed on the sample locations to determine separation distances between the objects. The determined separation distances are compared to the separation distance requirements. Objects in the 3D virtual environment that violate the separation rules based on said comparing are identified.

Computer-automated separation rules compliance analysis

A system for analysis of gaps between modeled parts of an assembly to be produced is provided. The system generates a three-dimensional (3D) visualization environment of 3D models of a plurality of parts in the assembly and performs an analysis of those of the 3D models within a given proximity to each other to determine gaps therebetween, including any non-acceptable gaps with gap distances that exceed an acceptable gap threshold. The system generates, for a non-acceptable gap, an instruction and automatically implements the instruction to correct the non-acceptable gap and confirms that the non-acceptable gap as corrected does not have a gap distance that exceeds the acceptable gap threshold. The system generates an output of a 3D model of the assembly populated with the 3D models and with the non-acceptable gap as corrected for use in connection with production of the assembly.

Gap detection for 3D models

A method is provided that includes generating a report template usable to produce a report to convey information about a structural product or one or more of a plurality of parts thereof, rendering for display. A model of the structural product is observed from a home viewpoint. Input is received to navigate the model to a part selected from the plurality of parts, the model at the navigated viewpoint including information for the part selected from the plurality of parts. A command string is generated that includes information specifying the navigated viewpoint. The command string is output to a recorder configured to record the command string on at least one of a physical medium or to an electronic document in which the command string is thereby included, the command string capable of being machine-read to automatically restore the model at the navigated viewpoint.

Data acquisition and encoding process for manufacturing, inspection, maintenance and repair of a structural product

A method is provided that includes rendering for display, a digital three-dimensional (3D) model of a structural product composed of a plurality of parts, with the digital 3D model being observed from a home viewpoint. Input is received to navigate the digital 3D model to a part of the plurality of parts, observation of the digital 3D model being moved from the home viewpoint to a navigated viewpoint. A digital label is generated that includes information specifying the navigated viewpoint and includes information for the part. The digital label may be output to a label recorder configured to record the digital label on a physical medium and thereby produce a corresponding physical label. At least the navigated viewpoint of the digital 3D model in the digital label and corresponding physical label are in a machine-readable format and capable of being machine-read to automatically restore the digital 3D model at the navigated viewpoint.

Data acquisition and encoding process linking physical objects with virtual data for manufacturing, inspection, maintenance and repair

A method and apparatus for locating a part in an aircraft. A part is identified in the aircraft. A series of views is generated from a model of the aircraft with graphical indicators in the series of views configured to provide guidance to a position of the part in the aircraft. The series of views is displayed on a display device.

Locator system for three-dimensional visualization

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Federal Way, WA, United States of America

William McGarry