Application of path planning and visualization for industrial-design and maintainability-analysis

Software applications Product Vision, and its successor, Galileo, were developed to allow engineers to interactively fly through a digital virtual jet engine, and automatically determine removal paths for maintenance simulations. Three equally significant hurdles have been overcome during the development of this software, with the following results: state-of-the-art algorithms have been developed to find part-removal paths, create swept volumes, and decimate large models for interactive visualization. A powerful yet easy-to-use application has been developed that can efficiently manipulate large databases. The application has been integrated into many aspects of a large industrial design cycle. The application, Galileo, is being actively used by GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE). The visualization and maintainability analysis technology embedded in this software has eliminated the need for costly physical mockups and pushed maintenance issues to the earliest stages of the design cycle. The tool has facilitated concurrent engineering through visually enhanced communications. It has been adopted for aiding the assembly of engines, and for training service mechanics.