Automated resin ridge reduction system

• US 10,197,392 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Clark, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Punnoose, Roy M
• Application Number:
  US14/747,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20160377424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 356600
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/26 for manufacturing, inspections or repairs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/303 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8472 Investigation of composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/9518 using a surface follower, e.g. robot
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9515 Objects of complex shape, e.g. examined with use of a surface follower device measuring contours and curvatures G01B11/24
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an automated guided vehicle that moves on a surface of a composite structure during operation of the apparatus to inspect the composite structure, a surface inspection sensor system associated with the automated guided vehicle, and an automated guided vehicle and surface inspection sensor system controller in communication with the automated guided vehicle and the surface inspection sensor system.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an automated guided vehicle, comprising a crawler, that moves on a surface of a composite structure during operation of the apparatus to inspect the composite structure;

a surface inspection sensor system connected to the automated guided vehicle;

an automated guided vehicle and surface inspection sensor system controller in communication with the automated guided vehicle and the surface inspection sensor system;

wherein the surface inspection sensor system is configured to generate inspection information about the surface of the composite structure during the operation of the apparatus, and the automated guided vehicle and surface inspection sensor system controller is configured to autonomously control movement of the automated guided vehicle on the surface of the composite structure, receive the inspection information from the surface inspection sensor system, and scan for an inconsistency that is out of tolerance on the surface of the composite structure using the inspection information;

wherein in being configured to scan for the inconsistency that is out of tolerance, the automated guided vehicle and surface inspection sensor system controller is further configured to identify a measured profile from inspection information, compare the measured profile with an expected profile to form a comparison, determine whether the inconsistency is out of tolerance and should be reduced based on the comparison, and identify how much to reduce the inconsistency from the comparison when the inconsistency is out of tolerance and should be reduced; and

an inconsistency reduction system connected to the automated guided vehicle, wherein the automated guided vehicle and surface inspection sensor system controller is configured to control the inconsistency reduction system to reduce the inconsistency that is identified as being out of tolerance.