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Distortion measurement and adjustment system and related method for its use

  • US 6,293,027 B1
  • Filed: 05/11/1999
  • Issued: 09/25/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for measuring distortion of a spacecraft structure of interest, the system comprising:

  • a first set of targets affixed to the spacecraft structure of interest;

    a first target scanning module affixed to a reference point on a frame of reference independent of the spacecraft structure of interest, wherein the first target scanning module includes means for measuring a range and an angular position for each of the first set of targets;

    means for computing the orientation of the spacecraft structure of interest relative to the frame of reference, from the measured ranges and angular positions of the first set of targets;

    a second set of targets affixed to the spacecraft structure of interest;

    a second scanning module affixed to a reference point on the spacecraft structure of interest, wherein the target scanning module includes means for measuring a range and an angular position for each of the second set of targets with respect to the reference point; and

    means for computing shape distortion measurements pertaining to the spacecraft structure of interest from the measured ranges and angular positions of the second set of targets;

    wherein the first scanning module includes a laser radar module, and a pair of scan mirrors controllable to direct a laser beam from the laser radar module toward successive targets in the first set of targets to obtain range and angular position data for each target in the first set of targets;

    and wherein the second scanning module includes a light source, and a plurality of light-sensing cameras for detecting the angular positions of the second set of targets, from a direction of arrival of light emanating from the light source and reflected from the targets;

    and wherein the position of each of the second set of targets is determined by triangulation based on receipt of light from each target by at least two of the light-sensing cameras.

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