Team-based Aircraft Maintainer Support (TAMS)

Keeping the Air Force assets flying is difficult enough at depot level where there are extensive facilities and expert help but in austere environment these advantages aren't present. A recent innovation, the Portable Maintenance Aid (PMA), is a new tool to the help the human through these situations. PMAs are mobile computing devices that can be used at the point of maintenance and are becoming more widespread. PMAs range in size from hand-held devices weighing only ounces to bulky items weighing up to 25 pounds. There remain many issues including usability in the field, interoperability, cost, and more. In response to SBIR AF04-060, 21st Century Systems, Inc. is pleased to propose researching and developing a state-of-the-art maintenance support system. The concept is entitled "Team-based Aircraft-based Maintainer Support", or TAMS, System. TAMS provides the individual maintainer a virtual workshop of tools, manuals, and connections to remote team members while at the aircraft. The collaboration tools for multi-media interaction with technical experts located near or far away are avatars (a computer representation of a human). The virtual workshop with avatars provides an interpersonal session but greatly reduces the video requirements. Avatars can also spawn analysis tasks in support of the maintenance session.