How Aircraft Systems Detect Mechanical Wear by Comparing Real-Time Performance
A system that monitors aircraft parts by comparing their actual physical movement against a computer simulation to spot mechanical degradation or performance delays.
Original patent title: “System and method of monitoring reduced performance”
A system that monitors aircraft parts by comparing their actual physical movement against a computer simulation to spot mechanical degradation or performance delays. Granted to Textron Innovations Inc in 2024 with 21 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system monitors critical aircraft parts, such as rotor blades, elevators, or flaps, to ensure they are moving exactly as expected. It creates a digital twin or simulation that predicts how a component should move when given a specific input. A comparison module then measures the actual movement of the physical part and checks for any time delays or discrepancies between the real-world movement and the simulated model. If the time difference exceeds a set threshold, the system identifies that the component is experiencing reduced performance, potentially indicating wear or mechanical failure.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on static sensor thresholds without a dynamic simulation component.
- Does not cover ground-based maintenance diagnostics that are not integrated into the flight operation monitoring loop.
- Does not cover simple error reporting that lacks a comparison between physical displacement delay and simulated response delay.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Instead of just measuring if a part moves, the system specifically measures the 'displacement response delay'—the time gap between an input command and the physical movement—and compares that to a simulated baseline to detect hidden mechanical friction or wear.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Tiltrotor aircraft rotor blade pitch control
Aircraft wing elevator deflection monitoring
Tail flap performance tracking
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In aviation, detecting mechanical degradation before a part fails is critical for safety. By using real-time simulation to identify subtle performance lags, this system allows for predictive maintenance, potentially preventing in-flight emergencies and reducing the cost of unscheduled repairs for complex aircraft like tiltrotors.
Filed
October 11, 2020
Granted
May 7, 2024
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Textron Innovations, the parent company of Bell Textron, is the primary entity developing this technology. They are focused on integrating these predictive monitoring systems into their advanced vertical lift and tiltrotor platforms.
Market impact
This technology supports the industry-wide shift toward condition-based maintenance. By moving away from fixed-interval inspections, manufacturers can increase aircraft availability and safety, which is essential for the commercial viability of next-generation vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system monitors critical aircraft parts, such as rotor blades, elevators, or flaps, to ensure they are moving exactly as expected. It creates a digital twin or simulation that predicts how a component should move when given a specific input. A comparison module then measures the actual movement of the physical part and checks for any time delays or discrepancies between the real-world movement and the simulated model. If the time difference exceeds a set threshold, the system identifies that the component is experiencing reduced performance, potentially indicating wear or mechanical failure.
The clever bit
Instead of just measuring if a part moves, the system specifically measures the 'displacement response delay'—the time gap between an input command and the physical movement—and compares that to a simulated baseline to detect hidden mechanical friction or wear.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on static sensor thresholds without a dynamic simulation component.
- Does not cover ground-based maintenance diagnostics that are not integrated into the flight operation monitoring loop.
- Does not cover simple error reporting that lacks a comparison between physical displacement delay and simulated response delay.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
14/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$18K – $56K
Midpoint $35K · 14.3 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
21 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Logies, M., Aloysius, R., Leffler, K. B., & Bernard, G. (2024). How Aircraft Systems Detect Mechanical Wear by Comparing Real-Time Performance (U.S. Patent No. 11,975,868). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11975868/starship-point-to-point-earth-transport
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Aircraft Systems Detect Mechanical Wear by Comparing Real-Time Performance cover?
A system that monitors aircraft parts by comparing their actual physical movement against a computer simulation to spot mechanical degradation or performance delays.
Who owns patent US 11975868?
Textron Innovations Inc owns this patent, granted in 2024.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 7, 2044, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
In aviation, detecting mechanical degradation before a part fails is critical for safety. By using real-time simulation to identify subtle performance lags, this system allows for predictive maintenance, potentially preventing in-flight emergencies and reducing the cost of unscheduled repairs for complex aircraft like tiltrotors.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that rely solely on static sensor thresholds without a dynamic simulation component.
Patent monitoring