Methods and systems for large-scale airframe assembly
First Claim
1. A method of assembling first and second components, comprising:
- measuring at least one of a first surface position and a first plurality of discrete point positions associated with the first component, the first plurality of discrete point positions being at least one of on and adjacent to the first component;
measuring at least one of a second surface position and a second plurality of discrete point positions associated with the second component, the second plurality of discrete point positions being at least one of on and adjacent to the second component;
comparing the measurements associated with at least one of the first and second components with a desired position information;
computing a transformation matrix for moving at least one the first and second component to provide substantial design conformity between the measurements and the desired position information; and
moving at least one of the first and second components according to the transformation matrix.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for large-scale airframe assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes measuring a plurality of discrete point positions at least one of on and adjacent to at least one of a first and a second component, and measuring at least one surface position on the at least one of the first and second components. The measured positions are compared with a desired position information (e.g., a computer aided design model). The comparison may include applying a fitting routine to the measured positions and the desired position information. Next, a transformation matrix for improving the comparison between the measured positions and the desired position information is computed. At least one of the first and second components is then moved according to the transformation matrix. During movement, the plurality of discrete point positions may be monitored and provided to the position control system by a feedback loop.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method of assembling first and second components, comprising:
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measuring at least one of a first surface position and a first plurality of discrete point positions associated with the first component, the first plurality of discrete point positions being at least one of on and adjacent to the first component; measuring at least one of a second surface position and a second plurality of discrete point positions associated with the second component, the second plurality of discrete point positions being at least one of on and adjacent to the second component; comparing the measurements associated with at least one of the first and second components with a desired position information; computing a transformation matrix for moving at least one the first and second component to provide substantial design conformity between the measurements and the desired position information; and moving at least one of the first and second components according to the transformation matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of assembling first and second components of an aircraft, comprising:
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positioning the first component in a desired position; positioning the second component proximate the first component; measuring at least one of a first surface position and a first plurality of discrete point positions associated with the first component, the first plurality of discrete point positions being at least one of on and adjacent to the first component; measuring at least one of a second surface position and a second plurality of discrete point positions associated with the second component, the second plurality of discrete point positions being at least one on and adjacent to the second component; comparing the measurements associated with at least one of the first and second components with a desired position information; computing a transformation matrix for moving at least one of the first and second component to provide substantial design conformity between the first and second components and the desired position information of the second component; and moving the second component relative to the first component in accordance with the transformation matrix. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for positioning first and second components for assembly, comprising:
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a first measurement system configured to measure a plurality of discrete point positions associated with at least one of the first and second components, the discrete point positions being at least one of on and adjacent to the corresponding one of the first and second components; a second measurement system configured to measure at least one surface position on at least one of the first and second components; a data management device operatively coupled to the first and second measurement systems, the data management device including a processing portion configured to; receive the measured positions of the plurality of discrete points and the at least one surface, compare the measured positions with a desired position information of the at least one of the first and second components, and compute a transformation matrix for moving at least one of the first and second component to provide substantial design conformity between the measured positions and the desired position information; and a position control system operatively coupled to the data management device and configured to move at least one of the first and second components according to the transformation matrix. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A manufacturing facility for assembling first and second components of an aircraft, comprising:
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a working space configured to receive the first and second components; a first measurement system configured to measure a plurality of discrete point positions associated with at least one of the first and second components, the discrete point positions being at least one of on and adjacent to the corresponding one of the first and second components; a second measurement system configured to measure at least one surface position on at least one of the first and second components; a data management device operatively coupled to the first and second measurement systems, the data management device including a processing portion configured to; receive the measured positions of the plurality of discrete point positions and the at least one surface position, compare the measured positions with a desired position information of the at least one of the first and second components, and compute a transformation matrix for moving at least one of the first and second component to provide substantial design conformity between the measured positions and the desired position information; and a position control system at least partially disposed within the working space and operatively coupled to the data management device, the position control system being configured to move at least one of the first and second components according to the transformation matrix. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification