Method and system for navigating a nondestructive evaluation device

• US 7,499,772 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wilcox, David E., Duffy, Timothy R., Jones, Paul Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US11/217,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20070113690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 738658-8659, 738/665, 701/3, 702 33- 40, 702/113, 703/8
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2694 Wings or other aircraft parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/225 Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70

Abstract

A system for the nondestructive evaluation of aircraft comprising a plurality of positional transmitters forming a perimeter around a test airplane and an inspection station within the perimeter. The inspection station includes a moveable cart, a nondestructive testing device coupled the cart, and a computer coupled to the cart and nondestructive testing device. The computer configured to receive aircraft positional data from positional receivers mounted on an aircraft and overlay a model of the aircraft on the received aircraft positional data to determine a coordinate system for the aircraft. The computer is further operable to determine the location of the cart from data received from onboard positional receivers, the location of the cart referenced to the coordinate system for the aircraft.

Claims

1. An inspection device for nondestructive evaluation of an aircraft, comprising:

a cart;

a nondestructive testing device coupled the cart; and

,

a computer coupled to the cart and nondestructive testing device, the computer configured to;

receive aircraft positional data from positional receivers mounted on an aircraft;

overlay a model of the aircraft on the received aircraft positional data to determine a coordinate system for the aircraft; and

determine the location of the cart from data received from onboard positional receivers, the location of the cart referenced to the coordinate system for the aircraft.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the model of the aircraft is overlaid on the retrieved aircraft positional data by use of a best fit calculation.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the model of the aircraft is derived from schematic drawings.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein a plurality of testing points are determined for the model of the aircraft.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein a test vector is calculated for each test

point, the test vector indicating a position to place the nondestructive test device.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the computer is further configured to

retrieve the model of the aircraft from a memory.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the computer is farther configured to

display a representation of the aircraft to assist an operator in navigation.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein a representation of the inspection device is displayed by the computer.

9. A system for the nondestructive evaluation of aircraft comprising

a plurality of positional transmitters forming a perimeter around a test airplane;

an inspection station within the perimeter comprising;

a moveable cart;

a nondestructive testing device coupled the cart; and

a computer coupled to the cart and nondestructive testing device,

the computer configured to;

receive aircraft positional data from positional receivers mounted on an aircraft;

overlay a model of the aircraft on the received aircraft positional data to determine a coordinate system for the aircraft; and

determine the location of the cart from data received from onboard positional receivers, the location of the cart referenced to the coordinate system for the aircraft.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the model of the aircraft is overlaid on the retrieved aircraft positional data by use of a best fit calculation.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the model of the aircraft is derived from CAD drawings.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein a plurality of test points are determined for the model of the aircraft.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein a test vector is calculated for each test point, the test vector indicates the position to place the nondestructive test device.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer is further configured to

retrieve the model of the aircraft from memory.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer is further operable to display a representation of the aircraft to assist an operator in navigation.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein a representation of the inspection device is displayed by the computer.