Abstract: A method for modeling a physical component is provided, the method comprising scanning the component to generate a point cloud, generating definitions of surfaces of the component from the point cloud, identifying vertices of edges at which the surfaces of the component meet, and converting the point cloud to a corresponding parameterized digital model of the component. In some example implementations, generating the definitions for a surface comprises: selecting data points of the point cloud that are within a determined spatial range from a frame of reference, identifying a planar surface formed by those data points that conform to a collinear pattern within the determined spatial range from the frame of reference or a cylindrical surface formed by those of the plurality of data points that do not conform to a collinear pattern and generating the definition of the surface from the planar or cylindrical surface as identified.

Abstract: A method is provided for repair of a mechanical or electromechanical system of a machine. An inference engine receives indication of a failure mode of the system, and measurements of operating conditions of the machine, and the inference engine defines a current problem including (a) the failure mode of the system, and (b) a pattern in the measurements. The inference engine searches a knowledge base with historical problems including (a) failure modes of systems of the machine, and (b) patterns in measurements of the operating conditions, and respective solutions with (c) repair actions performed to address the respective ones of the failure modes, for a respective solution to a historical problem most similar to the current problem. This is inferred as a solution to the current problem, and the inference engine generates an output display indicating the repair action of the solution to address the failure mode of the system.

Abstract: A method for modeling a physical component is provided, the method comprising scanning the component to generate a point cloud, generating definitions of surfaces of the component from the point cloud, identifying vertices of edges at which the surfaces of the component meet, and converting the point cloud to a corresponding parameterized digital model of the component. In some example implementations, generating the definitions for a surface comprises: selecting data points of the point cloud that are within a determined spatial range from a frame of reference, identifying a planar surface formed by those data points that conform to a collinear pattern within the determined spatial range from the frame of reference or a cylindrical surface formed by those of the plurality of data points that do not conform to a collinear pattern and generating the definition of the surface from the planar or cylindrical surface as identified.

Abstract: A system for predicting a triggered lightning strike upon an aircraft, which includes an antenna for collecting an RF signal. The system includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing data into a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to receive as input a filtered, amplified form of the RF signal collected by the antenna and a non-filtered, amplified form of the RF signal collected by the antenna. The system determines a difference between the filtered, amplified form of the RF signal and the non-filtered and amplified form of the RF signal. The difference is a static signal. The system determines the triggered lightning strike upon the aircraft based on the static signal.

Abstract: A system for predicting a triggered lightning strike upon an aircraft, which includes an antenna for collecting an RF signal. The system includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing data into a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to receive as input a filtered, amplified form of the RF signal collected by the antenna and a non-filtered, amplified form of the RF signal collected by the antenna. The system determines a difference between the filtered, amplified form of the RF signal and the non-filtered and amplified form of the RF signal. The difference is a static signal. The system determines the triggered lightning strike upon the aircraft based on the static signal.

Abstract: A system for assessing effects of lightning strikes upon a specific aircraft based on a plurality of field reports is disclosed. The system includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the processors, the memory storing data into a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to receive as input refined data extracted from the plurality of field reports. The refined data includes text indicating a plurality of lightning strikes upon the specific aircraft and at least a portion of the text is structured into a sentence format. The system parses a unique sentence contained within the refined data to create a dependency parse graph that defines grammatical relationships between at least one word indicating a specific lightning strike upon the specific aircraft with remaining words within the unique sentence. The unique sentence indicates the specific lightning strike.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the health of a DC motor, such as a DC motor on a vehicle. The method includes measuring a current output signal of the DC motor, determining a mean of the measured current signal over a predetermined time period and determining a variance estimation of the mean of the measured current. The method then uses the variance estimation to determine the health of the motor, including an end-of-life prediction of the motor, and uses the mean of the measured current to determine the performance (torque) of the motor.

Abstract: A vehicle repair assist system for repairing a vehicle fault in a vehicle. A symptom input module is provided for entering vehicle symptom information relating to the fault. A diagnostic code module retrieves diagnostic trouble codes from the vehicle. The diagnostic trouble codes are generated in response to a fault occurrence. A knowledge-based fault module identifies potential causes of the vehicle fault based on at least one of the symptom information and diagnostic trouble codes. A repair assistant module identifies recommended repair parts and repair procedures for repairing the cause of the vehicle fault. The repair assistant module communicates with the knowledge-based fault module for obtaining a prioritized listing of the recommended repair parts and repair procedures for repairing the vehicle fault.

Abstract: A method and system for using Equivalent Time Sampling to improve the effective sampling rate of sensor data, and using the improved-resolution data for diagnosis and control. Data samples from existing sensors are provided, where the sampling rate of the existing sensors is not sufficient to accurately characterize the parameters being measured. High-resolution data sets are reconstructed using Equivalent Time Sampling. High-resolution input data sets are used in a system model to simulate the performance of the system being measured. Results from the system model, and high-resolution output data sets from Equivalent Time Sampling, are provided to an estimator, which provides accurate estimation of measured quantities and estimation of quantities not measured. Output from the estimator is used for fault diagnosis and control of the system being measured.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the health of a DC motor, such as a DC motor on a vehicle. The method includes measuring a current output signal of the DC motor, determining a mean of the measured current signal over a predetermined time period and determining a variance estimation of the mean of the measured current. The method then uses the variance estimation to determine the health of the motor, including an end-of-life prediction of the motor, and uses the mean of the measured current to determine the performance (torque) of the motor.

Abstract: A vehicle repair assist system for repairing a vehicle fault in a vehicle. A symptom input module is provided for entering vehicle symptom information relating to the fault. A diagnostic code module retrieves diagnostic trouble codes from the vehicle. The diagnostic trouble codes are generated in response to a fault occurrence. A knowledge-based fault module identifies potential causes of the vehicle fault based on at least one of the symptom information and diagnostic trouble codes. A repair assistant module identifies recommended repair parts and repair procedures for repairing the cause of the vehicle fault. The repair assistant module communicates with the knowledge-based fault module for obtaining a prioritized listing of the recommended repair parts and repair procedures for repairing the vehicle fault.

Abstract: A method and system for using Equivalent Time Sampling to improve the effective sampling rate of sensor data, and using the improved-resolution data for diagnosis and control. Data samples from existing sensors are provided, where the sampling rate of the existing sensors is not sufficient to accurately characterize the parameters being measured. High-resolution data sets are reconstructed using Equivalent Time Sampling. High-resolution input data sets are used in a system model to simulate the performance of the system being measured. Results from the system model, and high-resolution output data sets from Equivalent Time Sampling, are provided to an estimator, which provides accurate estimation of measured quantities and estimation of quantities not measured. Output from the estimator is used for fault diagnosis and control of the system being measured.

Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems and methods involving vibration monitoring are provided. In this regard, a representative vibration monitoring method for a gas turbine engine includes: receiving information corresponding to detected vibrations of a gas turbine engine; isolating vibrations attributable to rotating blades of the gas turbine engine from the detected vibrations; and comparing the isolated vibrations to information corresponding to predicted vibrations of the rotating blades.