Patents by Inventor Steve Slaughter

Steve Slaughter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12184518
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for inferred information propagation for aircraft prognostics. The method includes receiving, by a processor, an original time-series of data points for a component as an input; preprocessing the input to divide the original time-series of data into subsets of data by applying a time-window over the original time-series of data points; and computing, by the processor, a Mutual Information (MI) value for each pair of variables within each subset of data. The method also includes constructing, by the processor, a sequence of relationship graphs using the computed MI values; clustering, by the processor, each relationship graph; and analyzing, by the processor, the time-ordered sequence of clustered relationship graphs to identify features in the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles Eugene Martin, Tsai-Ching Lu, Steve Slaughter, Alice A. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20230388202
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for inferred information propagation for aircraft prognostics. The method includes receiving, by a processor, an original time-series of data points for a component as an input; preprocessing the input to divide the original time-series of data into subsets of data by applying a time-window over the original time-series of data points; and computing, by the processor, a Mutual Information (MI) value for each pair of variables within each subset of data. The method also includes constructing, by the processor, a sequence of relationship graphs using the computed MI values; clustering, by the processor, each relationship graph; and analyzing, by the processor, the time-ordered sequence of clustered relationship graphs to identify features in the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Charles Eugene Martin, Tsai-Ching Lu, Steve Slaughter, Alice A. Murphy
  • Patent number: 11138817
    Abstract: A method for determining a vehicle system prognosis includes detecting a predetermined characteristic of a vehicle with one or more sensors, receiving a plurality of sensor signals from the one or more sensors and determining an input time series of data based on the sensor signals, clustering a matrix of time series data, generated from the input time series of data, into a predetermined number of hyperplanes, extracting extracted features that are indicative of an operation of a vehicle system from a sparse temporal matrix based on data point behavior with respect to two or more hyperplanes within the sparse temporal matrix and determining an operational status of the vehicle system based on the extracted features, the sparse temporal matrix being based on the predetermined number of hyperplanes; and communicating the operational status of the vehicle system to an operator or crew member of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Martin, Tsai-Ching Lu, Alice A. Murphy, Christopher R. Wezdenko, Steve Slaughter
  • Publication number: 20210276688
    Abstract: A method for making large vehicle body sections, skins, and panels, including three dimensional sections, skins, and panels, using carbon fiber filaments comingled with thermoplastic polymer filaments to form comingled fibers. The first step is the manufacture of a composite preform using the comingled fibers. The comingled fibers are chopped by a fiber chopper unit mounted on a robot arm to create chopped comingled fibers that are sprayed and set on a preform mold to create a comingled fiber preform. The second step is forming the comingled fiber preform into a composite laminate using heat and pressure to consolidate the comingled fibers on a tooling surface. The disclosed method can be used for making large and contoured thermoplastic composite panels, skins, or sections suitable for light aircraft, automobiles, eVTOL's and other panel applications at a high production rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Galactic Co., LLC
    Inventors: Rob Sjostedt, Steve Slaughter
  • Patent number: 11113905
    Abstract: A fault detection system including one or more sensors onboard a vehicle to detect a characteristic of the vehicle and generate sensor signals corresponding to the characteristic, a processor onboard the vehicle to receive the sensor signals, generate one or more fast Fourier transform vectors based on the sensor signals so that the one or more fast Fourier transform vectors are representative of the characteristic, generate an analysis model from a time history of the fast Fourier transform vectors, and determine, using the analysis model, a degree to which the one or more fast Fourier transform vectors could have been generated by the analysis model, and an indicator to communicate an operational status of the vehicle to an operator or crew member of the vehicle based on the degree to which the one or more fast Fourier transform vectors could have been generated by the analysis model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dmitriy Korchev, Charles E. Martin, Tsai-Ching Lu, Steve Slaughter, Alice A. Murphy, Christopher R. Wezdenko
  • Publication number: 20210129395
    Abstract: Thermoplastic composite preforms for continuous fiber thermoplastic composite structural profiles and a system and method of manufacture for structural profiles utilizing thermoplastic filaments comingled with high strength fibers such as carbon fibers and braided into complex preforms suitable for automated press forming is disclosed. Utilizing flexible preforms in lieu of conventional rigid thermoplastic pre-preg material forms allows for manufacture of complex shapes, including both straight and curved shapes by an automated process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: TSC, LLC
    Inventors: Rob Sjostedt, Steve Slaughter, Paul Nicholas
  • Patent number: 10699040
    Abstract: A vehicle system prognosis apparatus including sensor(s) for detecting a characteristic of a vehicle system and generating at least one time series of condition indicator values, and a processor that receives the at least one time series and generates an analysis model, for the characteristic, that is trained with one or more of the at least one time series, that are obtained from the one or more sensors with the vehicle system operating under normal conditions, extracts from the at least one time series one or more features embodying an indication of a health of the vehicle system, generates a quantified health assessment of the vehicle system by quantifying the one or more features based on a normal distribution of the one or more features from the analysis model, and communicates the quantified health assessment of the vehicle system to an operator or crew member of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Martin, Tsai-Ching Lu, Samuel D. Johnson, Steve Slaughter, Alice A. Murphy, Christopher R. Wezdenko
  • Publication number: 20200168010
    Abstract: A fault detection system including one or more sensors onboard a vehicle to detect a characteristic of the vehicle and generate sensor signals corresponding to the characteristic, a processor onboard the vehicle to receive the sensor signals, generate one or more fast Fourier transform vectors based on the sensor signals so that the one or more fast Fourier transform vectors are representative of the characteristic, generate an analysis model from a time history of the fast Fourier transform vectors, and determine, using the analysis model, a degree to which the one or more fast Fourier transform vectors could have been generated by the analysis model, and an indicator to communicate an operational status of the vehicle to an operator or crew member of the vehicle based on the degree to which the one or more fast Fourier transform vectors could have been generated by the analysis model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Dmitriy KORCHEV, Charles E. MARTIN, Tsai-Ching LU, Steve SLAUGHTER, Alice A. MURPHY, Christopher R. WEZDENKO
  • Patent number: 10580228
    Abstract: A fault detection system including one or more sensors onboard a vehicle, the one or more sensors being configured to detect a predetermined characteristic of the vehicle and generate a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the predetermined characteristic, and a processor onboard the vehicle and in communication with the one or more sensors, the processor being configured to generate an analysis model for the predetermined characteristic, the analysis model being trained by the processor with a training data set of fast Fourier transform vectors that are generated from the plurality of sensor signals obtained under normal operating conditions of the predetermined characteristic, and determine a health of a vehicle component corresponding to the predetermined characteristic with the analysis model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dmitriy Korchev, Charles E. Martin, Tsai-Ching Lu, Steve Slaughter, Alice A. Murphy, Christopher R. Wezdenko
  • Publication number: 20200027287
    Abstract: A method for determining a vehicle system prognosis includes detecting a predetermined characteristic of a vehicle with one or more sensors, receiving a plurality of sensor signals from the one or more sensors and determining an input time series of data based on the sensor signals, clustering a matrix of time series data, generated from the input time series of data, into a predetermined number of hyperplanes, extracting extracted features that are indicative of an operation of a vehicle system from a sparse temporal matrix based on data point behavior with respect to two or more hyperplanes within the sparse temporal matrix and determining an operational status of the vehicle system based on the extracted features, the sparse temporal matrix being based on the predetermined number of hyperplanes; and communicating the operational status of the vehicle system to an operator or crew member of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Charles E. MARTIN, Tsai-Ching LU, Alice A. MURPHY, Christopher R. WEZDENKO, Steve SLAUGHTER
  • Patent number: 10304263
    Abstract: A method for determining a vehicle system prognosis includes detecting a predetermined characteristic of a vehicle with one or more sensors, obtaining a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the predetermined characteristic, receiving the plurality of sensor signals from the one or more sensors and determining an input time series of data based on the sensor signals, generating, a matrix of time series data based on the input time series of data, clustering the matrix of time series data based on predetermined clustering criteria into a predetermined number of clusters, generating a sparse temporal matrix based on the predetermined number of clusters, extracting extracted features that are indicative of an operation of a vehicle system from the sparse temporal matrix and determining an operational status of the vehicle system based on the extracted features, and communicating the operational status of the vehicle system to an operator or crew member of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Martin, Tsai-Ching Lu, Alice A. Murphy, Christopher R. Wezdenko, Steve Slaughter
  • Publication number: 20190042675
    Abstract: A vehicle system prognosis apparatus including sensor(s) for detecting a characteristic of a vehicle system and generating at least one time series of condition indicator values, and a processor that receives the at least one time series and generates an analysis model, for the characteristic, that is trained with one or more of the at least one time series, that are obtained from the one or more sensors with the vehicle system operating under normal conditions, extracts from the at least one time series one or more features embodying an indication of a health of the vehicle system, generates a quantified health assessment of the vehicle system by quantifying the one or more features based on a normal distribution of the one or more features from the analysis model, and communicates the quantified health assessment of the vehicle system to an operator or crew member of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Charles E. MARTIN, Tsai-Ching LU, Samuel D. JOHNSON, Steve SLAUGHTER, Alice A. MURPHY, Christopher R. WEZDENKO
  • Publication number: 20190012851
    Abstract: A fault detection system including one or more sensors onboard a vehicle, the one or more sensors being configured to detect a predetermined characteristic of the vehicle and generate a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the predetermined characteristic, and a processor onboard the vehicle and in communication with the one or more sensors, the processor being configured to generate an analysis model for the predetermined characteristic, the analysis model being trained by the processor with a training data set of fast Fourier transform vectors that are generated from the plurality of sensor signals obtained under normal operating conditions of the predetermined characteristic, and determine a health of a vehicle component corresponding to the predetermined characteristic with the analysis model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Dmitriy KORCHEV, Charles E. MARTIN, Tsai-Ching LU, Steve SLAUGHTER, Alice A. MURPHY, Christopher R. WEZDENKO
  • Publication number: 20180165894
    Abstract: A method for determining a vehicle system prognosis includes detecting a predetermined characteristic of a vehicle with one or more sensors, obtaining a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the predetermined characteristic, receiving the plurality of sensor signals from the one or more sensors and determining an input time series of data based on the sensor signals, generating, a matrix of time series data based on the input time series of data, clustering the matrix of time series data based on predetermined clustering criteria into a predetermined number of clusters, generating a sparse temporal matrix based on the predetermined number of clusters, extracting extracted features that are indicative of an operation of a vehicle system from the sparse temporal matrix and determining an operational status of the vehicle system based on the extracted features, and communicating the operational status of the vehicle system to an operator or crew member of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Charles E. MARTIN, Tsai-Ching LU, Alice A. MURPHY, Christopher R. WEZDENKO, Steve SLAUGHTER
  • Publication number: 20160292302
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for inferred information propagation for aircraft prognostics. The method includes receiving, by a processor, an original time-series of data points for a component as an input; preprocessing the input to divide the original time-series of data into subsets of data by applying a time-window over the original time-series of data points; and computing, by the processor, a Mutual Information (MI) value for each pair of variables within each subset of data. The method also includes constructing, by the processor, a sequence of relationship graphs using the computed MI values; clustering, by the processor, each relationship graph; and analyzing, by the processor, the time-ordered sequence of clustered relationship graphs to identify features in the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Charles Eugene Martin, Tsai-Ching Lu, Steve Slaughter, Alice A. Murphy
  • Patent number: 7147448
    Abstract: A system for controlling the deposit of liquid, gaseous, and/or particulate solid substances from a staging medium and method of making same is provided. The system comprises a distribution medium for receiving substances, and a containment layer adjacent to the substance distribution medium. The containment layer substantially prevents substance from entering the deposit area until the distribution medium is substantially filled with substance, thereby helping to prevent uneven deposits of the substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Slaughter, John C. Fish, Susan N. Clarkson
  • Publication number: 20040032062
    Abstract: A system for controlling the deposit of liquid, gaseous, and/or particulate solid substances from a staging medium and method of making same is provided. The system comprises a distribution medium for receiving substances, and a containment layer adjacent to the substance distribution medium. The containment layer substantially prevents substance from entering the deposit area until the distribution medium is substantially filled with substance, thereby helping to prevent uneven deposits of the substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Slaughter, John C. Fish
  • Patent number: 6630095
    Abstract: A method for fabricating fiber reinforced plastic structures includes a mold surface upon which can be supported a lay-up of one or more layers of a fibrous material, and over which can be placed a fluid impervious outer sheet with an inlet port and having its edges marginally sealed upon the mold surface to form a chamber. A vacuum outlet is connected to the chamber for drawing a vacuum there from. A resin distribution system is positioned between the lay-up and the fluid impervious sheet. The resin distribution system includes a resin distribution medium for receiving resin from the inlet port and a resin containment layer between the resin distribution medium and lay-up for preventing resin flowing from the resin distribution medium into the lay-up until the resin distribution medium is substantially filled with resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Slaughter, John C. Fish
  • Patent number: 6627142
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating fiber reinforced plastic structures is provided. The apparatus includes a mold surface upon which can be supported a lay-up of one or more layers of a fibrous material, and over which can be placed a fluid impervious outer sheet with an inlet port and having its edges marginally sealed upon the mold surface to form a chamber. A vacuum outlet is connected to the chamber for drawing a vacuum therefrom. A resin distribution system is positioned between the lay-up and the fluid impervious sheet. The resin distribution system includes a distribution sheet for receiving resin from the inlet port and at least one flat resin distribution line connected to the inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Slaughter, John C. Fish
  • Publication number: 20030025232
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating fiber reinforced plastic structures is disclosed. In detail, the apparatus includes a mold surface upon which can be supported a lay-up of one or more layers of a fibrous material, and over which can be placed a fluid impervious outer sheet with an inlet port and having its edges marginally sealed upon the mold surface to form a chamber. A vacuum outlet is connected to the chamber for drawing a vacuum there from. A resin distribution is positioned between the lay-up and the fluid impervious sheet. The resin distribution system includes a resin distribution medium for receiving resin from the inlet port and a resin containment layer between the resin distribution medium and lay-up for preventing resin flowing from the resin distribution medium into the lay-up until the resin distribution medium is substantially filled with resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Slaughter, John C. Fish