Most, if not all, aerospace tools that take a measurement requires periodic calibration and assurance that the tool is performing to spec.
There can be thousands of unique tools that must pass through its own respective calibration process and documentation. Micrometers, calipers, torque wrenches, and even scales.
Having a networked tool can save the hassle of operators mis-reading or just plain ignoring the calibration sticker. Also, knowing the “location” of the tool on an inventory sheet isn’t quite like knowing which side of a 747 for the wrench that is due for calibration.
Also this is just me hypothesizing… I presume there are a number of other benefits like automated logging of torque values for every single bolt installed with such tool. When the FAA audits for installation information regarding a single screw on a plane’s 3rd row window side infotainment system’s upper left mount… The data is easier to find.
This is all part of “industry 4.0” connected manufacturing for more efficient and lean manufacturing. Collect and process any data you could ever want to make the decisions for a manufacturer to do more with even less.
So if you’re on a site with hundreds or thousands of company owned tools it would be very helpful to have them connected for things like:
There’s even network connected tyres at this point.
Corpos froth at the mouth at the thought of being able to manage service information and lifecycle control.
It makes it safer and convenient for the workers as well.
Can’t that also be resolved with an inventory system similar to what chem/medical labs use?
Most, if not all, aerospace tools that take a measurement requires periodic calibration and assurance that the tool is performing to spec.
There can be thousands of unique tools that must pass through its own respective calibration process and documentation. Micrometers, calipers, torque wrenches, and even scales.
Having a networked tool can save the hassle of operators mis-reading or just plain ignoring the calibration sticker. Also, knowing the “location” of the tool on an inventory sheet isn’t quite like knowing which side of a 747 for the wrench that is due for calibration.
Also this is just me hypothesizing… I presume there are a number of other benefits like automated logging of torque values for every single bolt installed with such tool. When the FAA audits for installation information regarding a single screw on a plane’s 3rd row window side infotainment system’s upper left mount… The data is easier to find.
This is all part of “industry 4.0” connected manufacturing for more efficient and lean manufacturing. Collect and process any data you could ever want to make the decisions for a manufacturer to do more with even less.
doing more with less is probably exactly how these door plugs didnt get tightened down to begin with.
As a Software Engineer (cloud) you had me sold at Data Lake lol.
In all seriousness, it does seem like another valid philosophy for achieving further automation of mundane tasks.
Thankfully a lot of the trade-offs from IoT right now can seemingly be mitigated by building greenfield solutions.
Hopefully the industry can see and acknowledge the demand for more local networking versus going through a cloud service.
The main reason it needs a battery is to alert if the battery is low over the Internet.