Aircraft assembly system

Abstract

An aircraft assembly system as described herein includes an input module, a database, and a processing unit. The input module is adapted for inputting customer-specific data and, in particular, parameters which relate to the expected time of delivery, the number of personnel working in the aircraft assembly system or an apparatus of the system which cannot be used. By applying description logics, the processing unit generates a manufacturing plan in accordance with a set of rules and the input parameters. In order to improve the manufacturing plan, input parameters may be changed by the system in an iterative process. This may provide for an efficient use of resources available.

Claims

1. A computer-based aircraft assembly system, comprising: a data base comprising a set of rules for interior equipment components available for installation in an aircraft; and a processor configured to: receive customer specific design or configuration data relating to a configuration or a design of the aircraft, wherein the customer specific design or configuration data comprises one or more of: a number of interior equipment components comprising a galley, a toilet module, a crew rest compartment, a cabin light, a stowage compartment, and a passenger seat; a position of each of the interior equipment components; or a shape or a material of one of the interior equipment components; receive input parameters relating to at least one of expected time of delivery, number of personnel working on aircraft assembly, an apparatus of the system which cannot be used, or resources available in the aircraft assembly system; generate a first manufacturing plan for assembling the aircraft, based on the received customer specific design or configuration data and based on the received input parameters, and generated in accordance with the set of rules, the first manufacturing plan configured to produce a first aircraft with a first configuration; automatically vary, in an iterative process, the received customer specific design or configuration data, the received input parameters, or both the received customer specific design or configuration data and the received input parameters to obtain altered data for changing the design or configuration of the aircraft, changing the manufacturing plan, or changing both the design or configuration of the aircraft and the manufacturing plan; generate a second manufacturing plan for assembling the aircraft, based on the altered data, and generated in accordance with the set of rules, wherein the second manufacturing plan comprises a different number, a different position, a different shape, or a different material of at least one of the interior equipment components compared to the first manufacturing plan, and wherein the second manufacturing plan is configured to produce a second aircraft with a second configuration different from the first aircraft with a first configuration; compare the first manufacturing plan to the second manufacturing plan; and select the first manufacturing plan or the second manufacturing plan in response to the comparison.

2. The aircraft assembly system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control an assembling apparatus of the system, which is configured to assemble a part of the aircraft, in accordance with the manufacturing plan.

3. The aircraft assembly system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to prioritize the input parameters, and to change only an input parameter which is of low priority.

4. The aircraft assembly system of claim 1, wherein: the data base comprises also rules for components which are not available for installation in the aircraft; and the processor is configured to select the set of rules for the components available for installation in the aircraft in the data base.

5. The aircraft assembly system of claim 1, wherein: the set of rules comprises a sub-set of deterministic rules which do not allow varying an input parameter relating to that sub-set; and the set of rules comprises a sub-set of non-deterministic rules which do allow varying an input parameter relating to that sub-set.

6. The aircraft assembly system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to prioritize the rules of the set of rules, wherein a rule which is of low priority is disregarded, if observing one or more of the low priority rules would result in a manufacturing plan which contravenes a higher priority rule.

7. The aircraft assembly system of claim 1, wherein the processor processing unit is further configured to perform an error check of the manufacturing plan and/or the design and configuration of the aircraft, and to automatically vary an input parameter and/or the customer specific design data and/or configuration data in order to correct the error.

8. The aircraft assembly system of claim 1, wherein the manufacturing plan also comprises testing tasks for testing one or more components of the aircraft during assembly of the aircraft.

9. A method for aircraft assembly, the method comprising the steps of: inputting customer specific design or configuration data relating to a configuration or a design of the aircraft, wherein the customer specific design or configuration data comprises one or more of: a number of interior equipment components comprising a galley, a toilet module, a crew rest compartment, a cabin light, a stowage compartment, and a passenger seat; a position of each of the interior equipment components; or a shape or a material of one of the interior equipment components; inputting input parameters relating to at least one of expected time of delivery, number of personnel working on aircraft assembly, an apparatus of the system which cannot be used, or resources available in the aircraft assembly system; providing a set of rules for the interior equipment components available for installation in the aircraft, for the customer specific design or configuration data, and for the input parameters; and generating a first manufacturing plan for assembling the aircraft, based on the inputted customer specific design or configuration data and based on the inputted input parameters, and generated in accordance with the set of rules, the first manufacturing plan configured to produce a first aircraft with a first configuration; automatically varying, in an iterative process, the inputted customer specific design or configuration data, the inputted input parameters, or both the inputted customer specific design or configuration data and the inputted input parameters to obtain altered data for changing the design or configuration of the aircraft, changing the manufacturing plan, or changing both the design or configuration of the aircraft and the manufacturing plan; generating a second manufacturing plan for assembling the aircraft, based on the altered data, and generated in accordance with the set of rules, wherein the second manufacturing plan comprises a different number, a different position, a different shape, or a different material of at least one of the interior equipment components compared to the first manufacturing plan, and wherein the second manufacturing plan is configured to produce a second aircraft with a second configuration different from the first aircraft with a first configuration; comparing the first manufacturing plan to the second manufacturing plan; and selecting the first manufacturing plan or the second manufacturing plan in response to the comparing.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a program element which, when being executed by a processor of an aircraft assembly system, instructs the processor to: receive customer specific design or configuration data relating to a configuration or a design of the aircraft, wherein the customer specific design or configuration data comprises one or more of: a number of interior equipment components comprising a galley, a toilet module, a crew rest compartment, a cabin light, a stowage compartment, and a passenger seat; a position of each of the interior equipment components; or a shape or a material of one of the interior equipment components; receive input parameters relating to at least one of expected time of delivery, number of personnel working on aircraft assembly, an apparatus of the system which cannot be used” or resources available in the aircraft assembly system; receive a set of rules for the interior equipment components available for installation in the aircraft, for the customer specific design or configuration data, and for the input parameters; generate a first manufacturing plan for assembling the aircraft, based on the received customer specific design or configuration data and based on the received input parameters, and generated in accordance with the set of rules, the first manufacturing plan configured to produce a first aircraft with a first configuration; automatically vary, in an iterative process, the received customer specific design or configuration data, the received input parameters, or both the received customer specific design or configuration data and the received input parameters to obtain altered data for changing the design or configuration of the aircraft, changing the manufacturing plan, or changing both the design or configuration of the aircraft and the manufacturing plan; generate a second manufacturing plan for assembling the aircraft, based on the altered data, and generated in accordance with the set of rules, wherein the second manufacturing plan comprises a different number, a different position, a different shape, or a different material of at least one of the interior equipment components compared to the first manufacturing plan, and wherein the second manufacturing plan is configured to produce a second aircraft with a second configuration different from the first aircraft with a first configuration; compare the first manufacturing plan to the second manufacturing plan; and select the first manufacturing plan or the second manufacturing plan in response to the comparison.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in the following, with reference to the following drawings. The illustration in the drawings is schematic. In different drawings, similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an aircraft assembly system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a final assembly line of an aircraft assembly system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a manufacturing plan generation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 shows the manufacturing plan generation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a plurality of ontologies according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a flow-chart of a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description.

(9) FIG. 1 shows an aircraft assembly system 100. The aircraft assembly system 100 comprises an input module 101, for example a workstation or a notebook. The input module 101 is adapted for inputting customer-specific design and/or configuration data, and also input parameters, such as an expected time of delivery, the number of personnel working in the aircraft assembly system, time modules etc. Further, a database 102 is provided which comprises a set of deterministic and non-deterministic rules for components available for installation in the aircraft, for the customer-specific design or configuration data, and for the input parameters.

(10) The database and the input module are connected to a processing unit 103 which generates a manufacturing plan for assembling the aircraft in accordance with the set of rules and in accordance with the parameters input by the user as well as the customer-specific design or configuration data. Also connected to the processing unit 103 is a final assembly line 104 and one or more preassembly lines 105. The manufacturing plan is used for controlling the preassembly line and the final assembly lines and for assigning resources, such as workers, machinery and assembly stations for aircraft assembly.

(11) The system is capable of automatically generating a plurality of valid assembly schedules (which are part of the assembly plans), thereby observing different requirements and standard time modules.

(12) Generation of the assembly plan is done with the help of description logics, which finds an optimum solution, i.e., an optimum manufacturing plan out of a huge solution set. All feasible production scheduling relationships are identified, according to the set of rules and the requirements of the specific user/manufacturer. Also, the most important performance indicators may be considered when generating the manufacturing plan, for example, overall cost, time of delivery, etc.

(13) The complexity of the manufacturing process may depend on the cabin characteristics, which may also lead to different time frames.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a final assembly line of an aircraft assembly system. The final assembly line 104 comprises an assembling apparatus 205, which assembles a part 201 of an aircraft 201, 202, 203.

(15) This assembly apparatus 205 is controlled by the processing unit 103 (see FIG. 1).

(16) FIG. 3 shows the generation of three different manufacturing plans 303, 304, 305, in accordance with input parameters and events 301 and in accordance with a set of rules 302 described by description logics.

(17) The three manufacturing plans differ from each other, for example by assigning different manufacturing time slots (t1, t2, . . . ) and/or locations for specific assembly tasks.

(18) The first manufacturing plan 303 has been generated by using the customer-specific design or configuration data and also the parameters, which have been input by the user, without any variations performed by the system.

(19) The two following manufacturing plans 304, 305 have been generated by varying one or more of the customer-specific design or configuration data or one or more of the input parameters. The third manufacturing plan 305 may be the final manufacturing plan because it provides the most efficient aircraft assembly, although it uses slightly different input parameters and/or customer-specific design or configuration data.

(20) In other words, the system may be programmed to produce a (slightly) different aircraft and/or to use different resources or timeslots than the ones, which have been selected by the user, in order to improve the final result. These changes may also affect assemblies of other aircraft, i.e., aircraft which have been ordered by different customers/users.

(21) FIG. 4 shows the generation of a manufacturing plan according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Input parameters, such as a “To-do-list” 401, which relate to requirements and constraints, such as an expected time frame, the number of workers available, tasks to be carried out, etc., are input by a user. Further, a database is provided, which comprises a set of rules 402 to be applied. By using description logics 403, a manufacturing plan 404 is generated, which may comprise a station schedule. Also, stations in the final assembly line may be identified in module 405, where the final assembly of the aircraft is going to take place. Still further, all final assembly lines 406 may be assigned or even re-assigned, wherein each final assembly line may be assigned to a particular, individual aircraft.

(22) Each input parameter may comprise sub-categories, for example more detailed manufacturing tasks, such as electrical, mechanical or hydraulic tasks and testing, time groups, such as hours, days, weeks, seconds or even sub-seconds, testing tasks, or concrete changes in the manufacturing chain. These parameters are linked with each other in form of implicit and/or explicit rules and specific and logical sequences.

(23) Furthermore, the input parameters that manage the manufacturing process may have an influence on the whole assembly process. Therefore, the definition of a manufacturing plan may require a general and precise overview of every issue involved and a concrete background of the consequences that may appear, if some parameters change, for example interdependencies within the assembly process.

(24) Generation of the manufacturing plan may be performed in a flexible manner, so that a holistic manufacturing process may be mapped in sub-models and only a part of the whole process may be considered, for example only processes relating to electric installations within the manufacturing process.

(25) In order to map the integral knowledge about the manufacturing process and to offer an optimized manufacturing process according to the defined input parameters, in-process parameters and output or evaluation parameters (KPI), rules, or different options, the aircraft assembly system may be capable of taking into account all these different parameters for generating the manufacturing plan.

(26) FIG. 5 shows possible links between domain ontologies. If several ontologies are taken into account, there may be the possibility to have an overall or detailed report of performance indicators, for example cost.

(27) FIG. 6 shows a flow-chart of a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In step 601, customer-specific design and/or configuration data, which relate to a configuration and/or design of the aircraft, are input into the system. In step 602, input parameters which relate to the expected time of delivery, number of personnel working in the aircraft assembly system, an apparatus of the system which cannot be used or resources available in the aircraft assembly system are input into the system.

(28) In step 603, a set of rules is provided for components available for installation in the aircraft, for the customer-specific design and/or configuration data, and for the input parameters. In step 604, these rules are applied to the customer-specific design and/or configuration data and the input parameters in order to generate a manufacturing plan for assembling the aircraft in accordance with the set of rules. In step 605, the manufacturing plan is analyzed and one or more input parameters are altered, after which the manufacturing plan is generated once again.

(29) In other words, by applying description logics, the processing unit generates a manufacturing plan in accordance with a set of rules and the input parameters. In order to improve the manufacturing plan, input parameters may be changed by the system in an iterative process. This may provide for an efficient use of resources available.

(30) The new manufacturing plan is then compared to the older manufacturing plan in step 606, after which it is decided, which manufacturing plan is referred, for example because it provides a more efficient aircraft assembly. After that, the method may continue with step 605, in which one or more input parameters are changed again, resulting in a new manufacturing plan. If the system is satisfied the generated manufacturing plan, the method continues with step 607, in which the aircraft is assembled.

(31) It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not rule out a plurality. It should further be noted that features described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features of other exemplary embodiments described above. Moreover, while at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated, that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the functional arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalence.