A Ubiquitous Computing environment for aircraft maintenance

Abstract

Ubiquitous Computing bears a high potential in the area of aircraft maintenance. Extensive requirements regarding quality, safety, and documentation as well as high costs for having aircrafts idle during maintenance demand for an efficient execution of the process. Major weaknesses that impact the efficiency of the process are an inadequate tool management, human erros, and labour intensive manual documentation and check procedures. In this paper we propose a solution using ubiquitous computing technologies that improves aircraft maintence and provides a high level of usability. A scenario, a systems architecture, and maintenance applications are presented. The Smart Toolbox and the Smart Tool Inventory were implemented as proof of concept.