HOVER CMM
First Claim
1. A coordinate measuring machine comprising:
- an air vehicle;
a probe mounted on said air vehicle;
a localiser for measuring the position and orientation of said probe;
operable such that accurate measures of an object are made.
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Accused Products
Abstract
It is a purpose of this invention to provide a Hover CMM to accurately measure an object. The Hover CMM comprises: a probe, an air vehicle and a localiser. The probe is mounted on the air vehicle. The air vehicle transports the probe around the surface of the object. The localiser tracks the position and orientation of the probe. The air vehicle is capable of hovering, slow and rapid movement. The measurements made by the probe are synchronised with the measurements made by the localiser. In a further embodiment, multiple probes, multiple air vehicles and multiple localisers can be provided in a system. In a further embodiment, the air vehicle has additional propulsion means for reducing wander. In another embodiment, the air vehicle is tethered. In a further embodiment, a gantry is provided for tethering the air vehicle. In another embodiment, a tilting means is provided to incline the probe relative to the air vehicle. Methods are provided for measuring an object and for controlling the wander of the air vehicle.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A coordinate measuring machine comprising:
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an air vehicle; a probe mounted on said air vehicle; a localiser for measuring the position and orientation of said probe; operable such that accurate measures of an object are made. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28)
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3. (canceled)
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7. (canceled)
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14. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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17. (canceled)
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21-25. -25. (canceled)
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29. (canceled)
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30. A method for accurately measuring an object in a coordinate measuring machine comprising the following steps:
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[Step 1] a first measurement is made of an object using a probe and a localiser at a first probe location and orientation; [Step 2] an air vehicle moves the probe to a second location and orientation; [Step 3] a second measurement is made of the object using the probe and the localiser at the second location and orientation; where steps 2 and 3 are repeated until measurements of the object have been made from all required locations and orientations.
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31. A method for controlling the wander in flight of an air vehicle with main propulsion means and additional propulsion means in a coordinate measuring machine comprising the following steps:
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[Step 1] the 6-DOF position and orientation of said air vehicle is measured using a localiser; [Step 2] a control loop compares at least said 6-DOF position and orientation with at least the demanded 6-DOF position and orientation; [Step 3] said control loop generates control output signals to the main propulsion means and additional propulsion means on said air vehicle to reduce said wander; where steps 1 to 3 are repeated until the flight terminates.
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Specification