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Method for non-destructive inspection of an aircraft

  • US 5,633,707 A
  • Filed: 01/25/1996
  • Issued: 05/27/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for non-destructive inspection of an aircraft, comprising the steps of positioning a robot on the outer surface of an aircraft, mounting a surface sensor for movement on the robot and positioning the sensor in contact with the outer surface of the aircraft, maintaining the interior of the aircraft at a first pressure, moving the robot in a selected path of travel over said surface with said sensor riding on said surface and moving relative to said robot, tracking the movement of said sensor to provide a first continuous measurement of the spatial coordinates of said sensor, pressurizing the interior of the aircraft to a pressure greater than said first pressure, repeating the steps of moving the robot and tracking the movement of the sensor to provide a second continuous measurement of the spatial coordinates of the sensor, and comparing the first measurement with the second measurement to determine whether the spatial coordinates at any selected location on said aircraft outer surface are outside of a given tolerance.

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