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Optical laser guidance system apparatus and method

  • US 7,536,242 B2
  • Filed: 11/12/2004
  • Issued: 05/19/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An optical laser guidance system to guide a tape lamination device, the guidance system, comprising:

  • a laser sensor to sense a laser beam projected along a guidepath, the guidepath providing navigational guidance for the tape lamination device, the laser sensor being disposed upon the tape lamination device, the tape lamination device comprising;

    a steerable wheel to steer the tape lamination device;

    a tape lamination dispensing head to dispense a composite material upon a contoured surface; and

    a vehicle drive actuator to orient the steerable wheel; and

    a controller, linked to the laser sensor and linked to the vehicle drive actuator, wherein the laser sensor is configured to forward signals to the controller in response to sensing the laser beam, the controller is configured to determine if the tape lamination device is proceeding along the guidepath in response to the signals from the laser sensor, the controller is configured to forward signals to the vehicle drive actuator in response to determining the tape lamination device is deviating from the guidepath, and the vehicle drive actuator is configured to adjust an orientation of the steerable wheel in response to receiving signals from the controller; and

    a processor linked to the laser source to control the laser source, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a sequence of directions in which sequentially to point the laser beam in order to optically transmit a control message to the laser sensor, and the controller is further configured to recognize and interpret the control message received by the laser sensor.

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