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  Damage detection systemDamage detection system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070268025, Damage detection system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention is generally directed to damage detection and evaluation systems, and, more particularly to aircraft damage detection and evaluation systems that use a plurality of wireless transmitters. [0003] 2. Background Description [0004] Identification of damaged locations in a system or on a vehicle is commonly dependent upon operator perception and analysis. Often, an operator is unable to adequately perceive the entire damaged location due to dynamic system movement or limited field of vision. For example, a machine operator may not be able to see a portion of the machine because it may be blocked by other parts of the machine or workers. Additionally, poor lighting may contribute to inadequate perception of the operator. [0005] Quite often, the operator must rely on sensors for secondary systems or subsystems to obtain information relating to possible system damage. For example, a machine may have a sensor that reports hydraulic pressure available. When the available hydraulic pressure drops below a normal operating pressure, the operator may know that there is a malfunction or damage in the hydraulic system. Of course, sensors for other subsystems may include, but are not limited to, electrical systems, pneumatic systems, navigation systems, etc. [0006] Systems that are particularly susceptible to this type of problem include vehicles, and specifically include aircraft. Often a pilot of an aircraft is confined to a cockpit area that has a limited field of view. The pilot must rely almost exclusively on instrument readings that are reported to the cockpit. However, the pilot may also perceive vibrations through the aircraft. Should an aircraft be involved in a collision, with a bird for example, the pilot may not be able to ascertain the full extent of damage to the aircraft until after landing. This is often too late. [0007] Aircraft are generally designed with certain safety features that may isolate aircraft systems in the case of an emergency. However, the pilots often have no indication of potential system failure due to aircraft damage until system resources are depleted. For example, during combat, small arms fire may be a threat to the aircraft. If a bullet pierces the body of the aircraft and damages a hydraulic line thereby creating a small leak in the hydraulic system, the pilot may have no indication of the damage for several minutes or longer. During this time, the hydraulic system may be losing hydraulic fluid and the fluid may not be replaceable. Eventually, the hydraulic system may be depleted of fluid potentially causing even more serious problems. However, if the pilot were aware of the slow leak, the pilot may be able to isolate a portion of the hydraulic system that includes the leak, thus preserving the hydraulic fluid for the rest of the hydraulic system. [0008] One well known incident involved a commercial aircraft crash at Sioux City Iowa. In this incident, an engine failure ruptured lines of all three hydraulic systems causing a total loss of hydraulic pressure to the aircraft. Had the pilots been aware of the damage to the hydraulic systems soon after the failure of the engine, they may have been able to isolate the damaged area before the total failure of the hydraulic system. [0009] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems or disadvantages associated with the prior art. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART [0010] Systems have been developed which sense positions of certain components. For example, a method of sensing position for a workpiece and a tool that performs a manufacturing operation on the workpiece is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/096,612, assigned to The Boeing Company, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This method includes measuring at least three discrete point positions associated with a first component by using a transmitter having a known position and orientation and in a line of sight with the three distinct point positions. The three distinct point positions have known distances relative to one another. The method computes a current position and orientation of the first component using data provided by the transmitter and the three distinct point positions, along with position and orientation data from a last known location of the first component. The method assumes no sudden position changes for the first component. While this method tracks and senses position of certain components, the method does not detect or analyze damaged locations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] A damage detection system is described herein that includes a processor and at least one transmitter communicatively connected to the processor. The transmitter sends a signal to the processor and the processor may be programmed to assign a spatial coordinate to the transmitter. The processor may be further programmed to identify a transmitter location as damaged when the transmitter fails to send the signal. [0012] A method of identifying a damaged location is also described herein. The method includes attaching a plurality of remotely powered transmitters to a vehicle, and each of the plurality of transmitters is adapted to send a signal to a processor. The method may further include providing remote power to the plurality of transmitters, thereby causing each of the plurality of transmitters to send the signal to the processor. The processor may then assign spatial coordinates to each of the plurality of transmitters and may monitor the plurality of transmitters to identify non-functioning transmitters. The processor may determine a damaged location by identifying an area of the vehicle based upon the spatial coordinates assigned to any non-functioning transmitter. [0013] The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined in yet other embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary aircraft; [0015] FIG. 2, is a top perspective view of the aircraft of FIG. 1 showing locations of a plurality of remote transmitters which comprise a damage detection system; [0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the damage detection system of FIG. 2; and [0017] FIG. 4 is an example of tabulated data that may be compiled by the damage detection system of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0018] Damage detection systems may be employed on vehicles such as an aircraft. However, damage detection systems, such as the systems disclosed herein, can easily be adapted for use on any type of vehicle, for example, a car, a truck, a tank, a submarine, an airship, a space vehicle, a ship, or virtually any other type of vehicle. Such damage detection systems may be especially useful for combat aircraft. [0019] As shown in FIG. 1, an aircraft 10 generally includes a cockpit or flight deck 12 from which one or more pilots controls the aircraft 10. Often, the pilot's view of the aircraft 10 is obscured by the body 14 of the aircraft 10. Accordingly, the pilot is unable to view large portions of the aircraft 10, for example, the underside of the wings 16, the landing gear 18, and/or the empennage 20. As a result, the pilots must rely on system instrumentation indications, such as hydraulic pressure, electrical volts and amperes, pneumatic pressures, etc., to alert the pilots to potential damage on the aircraft 10. The aircraft 10 in FIG. 1 is shown as an example of a vehicle that may use the damage detection system. Virtually any vehicle could use such a system, for example, automobiles, ships, submarines, helicopters, trucks, earth moving equipment, spacecraft, etc. Continue reading about Damage detection system... Full patent description for Damage detection system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Damage detection system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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