Remote nondestructive inspection systems and methods

• US 8,255,170 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Kollgaard, Jeffrey R., Georgeson, Gary E., Bertrand, Blake A., Bossi, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, John H
• Application Number:
  US11/555,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20080109187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,126 Days
• Field of Search: 702/34, 702/36, 702184-188, 702/35, 707/102, 707/104.1, 706/45, 701/24, 701/29, 700/103, 700/104, 700/106, 736/14
• US Class Current: 702/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing nondestructive inspection (NDI) services. For example in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a system for remote inspection includes a nondestructive inspection (NDI) system configured to examine a structure and provide NDI data related to a damage condition of the structure, the NDI system being configured to communicate the NDI data to a remote location; and a remote computer disposed at the remote location, the remote computer being configured to receive the NDI data and provide the received NDI data for a review, the remote computer being configured to communicate an analytical result based on the review to the NDI system, the analytical result including a repair disposition decision corresponding to the damage condition.

Claims

1. A system for remote inspection, comprising:

a hand-held portable nondestructive inspection (NDI) system including an NDI device configured to examine solid laminate or honeycombed sandwich structure for an aircraft and provide NDI data related to a damage condition of the structure, wherein the NDI device is selected from a group consisting of a pulse-echo NDI device, a resonance NDI device, a tap-testing NDI device, an ultrasonic imaging NDI device, and a thermographic imaging NDI device, the NDI system being configured to communicate the NDI data to a remote location; and

a remote computer disposed at the remote location, the remote computer being configured to receive the NDI data and provide the received NDI data for a review, the remote computer being configured to communicate an analytical result based on the review to the NDI system, the analytical result including a repair disposition decision corresponding to the damage condition, the repair disposition decision including a fly or no-fly decision for the aircraft, wherein the system includes at least one of an audio communication link and a video communication link to the remote computer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the NDI data and the analytical result is being communicated over the at least one of the audio and video communications channels.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the analytical result is determined by a technician who compares the NDI data with engineering data for the examined structure to determine if the NDI data indicates the damage condition is within allowable damage limits.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the NDI system further includes:

a local computer operatively coupled to the NDI device and configured to receive the NDI data, wherein the local computer is further configured to transmit the NDI data to the remote computer and receive the analytical result from the remote computer.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the local computer system is configured to at least one of transmit the NDI data and receive the analytical result via at least one of a wireless local area network, a local area network, and an Internet.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote computer system is configured to least one of receive the NDI data and transmit the analytical result via at least one of a wireless local area network, a local area network, and an Internet.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the local computer system is configured to provide instructions for controlling the NDI device, the local computer being configured to receive the NDI data and store the NDI data on a computer readable medium.

8. The system of claim 4, further includes a robotic device configured to manipulate the NDI device at least in part, the robotic device being controlled at least in part by one of the local computer, a first technician at the local computer, the remote computer, and a second technician at the remote computer.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote computer is further configured to at least one of store the NDI data on a computer readable medium, display the NDI data in real-time, and transmit the analytical result to the NDI system.

10. A method for remote nondestructive inspection, comprising:

deploying a hand-held portable nondestructive inspection (NDI) system to examine solid laminate or honeycombed sandwich structure for an aircraft disposed at a first location, the NDI system including an NDI device selected from a group consisting of a pulse-echo NDI device, a resonance NDI device, a tap-testing NDI device, an ultrasonic imaging NDI device, and a thermographic imaging NDI device;

operating the NDI device by hand to acquire NDI data related to a damage condition of the structure, the NDI system being associated with a transmitter;

through the transmitter, transmitting the NDI data to a remote location distant from the first location;

requesting NDI remote location support from the first location via at least one of a voice channel and a video channel;

formulating a repair disposition decision based on an analysis of the NDt data at the remote location;

receiving at the first location the repair disposition decision; and

performing an action at the first location consistent with the repair disposition decision.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein deploying the NDI system further comprises providing a robotic device configured to manipulate at least a part of the NDI system, the robotic device being controlled at least in part by at least one of a local computer at the first location, a first technician at the local computer, a remote computer at the remote location, and a second technician at the remote computer.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the repair disposition decision comprises selecting one of:

dispatching the structure for use without repair;

dispatching the structure for use following a temporary repair; and

removing the structure from use until completion of permanent repair to the structure.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein performing an action at the first location consistent with the repair disposition decision comprises at least one of:

repairing the structure;

dispatching the structure; and

removing the structure from use.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

measuring dimensions of damage to the structure for comparison with allowable damage limits; and

dispatching the structure without deploying the NDI system when results of the measured dimensions of damage are within allowable damage limits.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the repair disposition decision is received at the first location via at least one of an audio communications channel and a video communications channel.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing video images corresponding to the operation of the NDI system to the remote location; and

receiving instructions corresponding to the operation of the NDI system from the remote location.