Metrology system for positioning assemblies
First Claim
1. A method for maintaining a selected configuration for a structure during a manufacturing process for forming a product using the structure, wherein the selected configuration for the structure comprises at least one of a selected shape of the structure or a selected position of the structure, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a controller, metrology data for a support system, while the support system holds the structure during the manufacturing process, wherein the support system comprises a plurality of supports and wherein each of the plurality of supports comprises a supporting member connected to the structure;
determining, by the controller, whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on the metrology data wherein the current configuration of the structure comprises at least one of a current shape of the structure or a current position of the structure, by;
identifying a plurality of local coordinate systems for the plurality of supports of the support system using the metrology data,identifying a structure coordinate system for the structure using at least one of the metrology data or at least two of the plurality of local coordinate systems, anddetermining whether the current configuration of the structure is within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on whether an X-Y plane of the structure coordinate system is parallel to a reference X-Y plane of a global coordinate system; and
reconfiguring the support system, by the controller, by moving the supporting member of one or more of the plurality of supports connected to the structure to move the structure into the selected configuration in response to a determination that the current configuration of the structure is not within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for maintaining a selected configuration for a structure during a manufacturing process for forming a product using the structure. Metrology data for a support system is received. The support system holds the structure during the manufacturing process. A determination is made as to whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on the metrology data. The support system is reconfigured to move the structure into the selected configuration in response to a determination that the current configuration of the structure is not within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure.
119 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining a selected configuration for a structure during a manufacturing process for forming a product using the structure, wherein the selected configuration for the structure comprises at least one of a selected shape of the structure or a selected position of the structure, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a controller, metrology data for a support system, while the support system holds the structure during the manufacturing process, wherein the support system comprises a plurality of supports and wherein each of the plurality of supports comprises a supporting member connected to the structure; determining, by the controller, whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on the metrology data wherein the current configuration of the structure comprises at least one of a current shape of the structure or a current position of the structure, by; identifying a plurality of local coordinate systems for the plurality of supports of the support system using the metrology data, identifying a structure coordinate system for the structure using at least one of the metrology data or at least two of the plurality of local coordinate systems, and determining whether the current configuration of the structure is within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on whether an X-Y plane of the structure coordinate system is parallel to a reference X-Y plane of a global coordinate system; and reconfiguring the support system, by the controller, by moving the supporting member of one or more of the plurality of supports connected to the structure to move the structure into the selected configuration in response to a determination that the current configuration of the structure is not within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a support system to hold a structure during a manufacturing process for forming a product using the structure, wherein the support system comprises a plurality of supports and wherein each of the plurality of supports comprises a supporting member to connect to the structure; a metrology system to generate metrology data while the support system holds the structure during the manufacturing process; and a controller that receives the metrology data, determines whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of a selected configuration for the structure based on the metrology data by identifying a plurality of local coordinate systems for the plurality of supports of the support system using the metrology data, identifying a structure coordinate system for the structure using at least one of the metrology data or at least two of the plurality of local coordinate systems, and determining whether the current configuration of the structure is within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on whether an X-Y plane of the structure coordinate system is parallel to a reference X-Y plane of a global coordinate system, and generates commands for reconfiguring the support system by moving the supporting member of one or more of the plurality of supports connected to the structure to move the structure into the selected configuration in response to a determination that the current configuration of the structure is not within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure, wherein the selected configuration for the structure comprises at least one of a selected shape of the structure or a selected position of the structure and the current configuration of the structure comprises at least one of a current shape of the structure or a current position of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus comprising:
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a support system to hold a structure during a manufacturing process for forming a product using the structure, wherein the support system comprises a plurality of supports and wherein each of the plurality of supports comprises a supporting member to connect to the structure; and a controller that receives metrology data generated for the support system while the support system holds the structure during the manufacturing process, determines whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of a selected configuration for the structure based on the metrology data by identifying a plurality of local coordinate systems for the plurality of supports of the support system using the metrology data, identifying a structure coordinate system for the structure using at least one of the metrology data or at least two of the plurality of local coordinate systems, and determining whether the current configuration of the structure is within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on whether an X-Y plane of the structure coordinate system is parallel to a reference X-Y plane of a global coordinate system, and generates commands for reconfiguring the support system by moving the supporting member of one or more of the plurality of supports connected to the structure to move the structure into the selected configuration in response to a determination that the current configuration of the structure is not within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure, wherein the selected configuration for the structure comprises at least one of a selected shape of the structure or a selected position of the structure and the current configuration of the structure comprises at least one of a current shape of the structure or a current position of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method for maintaining a selected configuration for a structure, wherein the selected configuration for the structure comprises at least one of a selected shape of the structure or a selected position of the structure, the method comprising:
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receiving metrology data for a support system while the support system holds the structure, wherein the support system comprises a plurality of supports and wherein each of the plurality of supports comprises a supporting member connected to the structure; and determining whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of the selected configuration based on the metrology data, wherein the current configuration of the structure comprises at least one of a current shape of the structure or a current position of the structure, by; identifying a plurality of local coordinate systems for the plurality of supports of the support system using the metrology data, identifying a structure coordinate system for the structure using at least one of the metrology data or at least two of the plurality of local coordinate systems, and determining whether the current configuration of the structure is within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on whether an X-Y plane of the structure coordinate system is parallel to a reference X-Y plane of a global coordinate system. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus comprising:
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a support system to hold a structure, wherein the support system comprises a plurality of supports and wherein each of the plurality of supports comprises a supporting member to connect to the structure; a metrology system to generate metrology data while the support system holds the structure, wherein the metrology system comprises a group of transmitters positioned relative to the plurality of supports of the support system and a plurality of target systems associated with the plurality of supports and wherein the metrology system is configured to generate the metrology data by; emitting signals from the group of transmitters, receiving the signals at each of the plurality of target systems, wherein each target system in the plurality of target systems comprises at least three targets configured to receive the signals, wherein the at least three targets have a known arrangement, and wherein a distance between each of the at least three targets and a control point corresponding to a corresponding support with which the each target system is associated is known, and generating position information by the each of the plurality of target systems to form the metrology data; and a controller that processes the metrology data for use in determining whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of a selected configuration for the structure, wherein the selected configuration for the structure comprises at least one of a selected shape of the structure or a selected position of the structure and the current configuration of the structure comprises at least one of a current shape of the structure or a current position of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification