Hangar of the Future Projects
Mobile Booth Project
The overall goal for our group is to produce a working Mobile Booth ready to be used by the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) crews.
We have finished the initial designs framework and put together a video of the 3-D booth design. We took our design to the Purdue Central Machine Shop where we received a price quote on all necessary parts and labor. The final cost for the parts is $422.86. Including labor, the final cost of the booth will be $1030.86. Our next goal is to secure funds so that fabrication can begin.
We have finalized our visual representation of the Mobile Booth using Katia. We can identify the dimensions, specifications, and design concepts visually. We also put together a video that demonstrates the comprehensive design in a three-dimensional format. Our video provides a full 360-degree look of the final digital representation of the Mobile Booth and makes the fabrication stage as easy as possible.
Other completed tasks include:
- We have created a plan to build the Mobile Booth, including dimensions, materials, and components. Now, we need funding to move to the building phase.
- We have an extensive components list, with exact prices and part information for the majority of components. This list has been finalized.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) project
RFID can be used for a number of tracking processes within the hangar/aircraft environment, including parts, tools, personnel, and safety equipment. We will work to include RFID with:
- New parts and products upon receipt so they can be located easily in stock rooms and to better control inventory and assure quality
- Parts taken from an aircraft for inspection to determine their location and inspection status (this should increase safety)
- Tools to monitor lifecycles and maintenance schedules
- Doorways (or portals) to track use and location of parts and tools
- Lockout-tagout tags to track real-time use
- Worker nametags, to match parts/tools with their users
- Safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, to track lifespan and location
The team is also testing how RFID can be effective inside an aircraft.
They anticipate use of RFID can improve safety, financial loss, and efficiency.
We are receiving assistance on this project from the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS).
Updates:
The RFID group has been working on setting up the system and its components. We have been working with Barcode ID to obtain a variety of sample tags to begin testing once the system is completely set up and functioning. The most efficient tags will be chosen based on their capability of sending strong signals and avoiding interference within the hangar.
We also have been searching for compatible middleware software. The middleware software is needed to link and network the components of the RFID system together. Our contacts at Barcode ID have agreed to create a custom application following our requirements. We hope to receive an estimate on this software soon.
Our latest achievement was getting our network established in the hangar. Once this was completed, we were able to have one antenna, using Symbol XR400, read a tag. Once we have our middleware software, we will be able to have tags read and report using all three antennas.
Software project
The software group helps create the foundation of the Hangar of the Future project. Tasks include:
- developing a networking and databasing system for the mobile booth
- designing the basic interface for the Microsoft Surface display
For the mobile booth, we have a server and are finalizing the finishing work on the programming to run the server. The basic database is mapped out, and we are gathering more data from major companies to further enhance the database. We plan to offer a user-friendly interface for which some basic interfaces have been created.
Students are learning MySQL and PHP and working in groups to solve coding and database problems. The interface has been planned, and some basic 3-D interface for a computer touch screen has been created. Once the Microsoft Surface is procured, we will begin programming it and the accompanying Web site so that they can be tested. While we wait for the Microsoft Surface, we have built a touch screen computer that we can write and test our programs and interfaces on. The touch screen computer is linked to the database and the temporary server that we have for full-system testing.
Members of the group come from computer science, electrical and computer engineering, aviation management, industrial engineering, and computer and information technology.