Laser ultrasound testing in limited-access areas
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a laser system located outside of an area that includes a region of a structure to be inspected, wherein the laser system generates a laser beam;
a mobile platform located within the area, wherein the mobile platform is a robotic vehicle configured to move on a surface of the structure;
an alignment system configured to direct the laser beam towards the mobile platform as the mobile platform moves on the surface of the structure, the alignment system comprising a fixed portion and a mobile portion, wherein the fixed portion has a fixed position relative to an output of the laser system, and the mobile portion is positioned on the mobile platform; and
wherein the fixed portion steers the laser beam towards the mobile portion on the mobile platform such that the mobile portion receives the laser beam from the fixed portion; and
a projection system on the mobile platform, wherein the projection system receives the laser beam from the mobile portion and projects the laser beam onto the surface of the region of the structure and wherein the laser beam causes a number of ultrasonic waves to form within the structure.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for inspecting a structure. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus comprises a laser system located outside of an area that includes a region of a structure to be inspected, a mobile platform located within the area to be inspected, and a projection system associated with the mobile platform. The laser system is configured to generate a laser beam. The projection system receives the laser beam and projects the laser beam onto a surface of the region of the structure. The laser beam causes a number of ultrasonic waves to form within the structure.
32 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a laser system located outside of an area that includes a region of a structure to be inspected, wherein the laser system generates a laser beam; a mobile platform located within the area, wherein the mobile platform is a robotic vehicle configured to move on a surface of the structure; an alignment system configured to direct the laser beam towards the mobile platform as the mobile platform moves on the surface of the structure, the alignment system comprising a fixed portion and a mobile portion, wherein the fixed portion has a fixed position relative to an output of the laser system, and the mobile portion is positioned on the mobile platform; and
wherein the fixed portion steers the laser beam towards the mobile portion on the mobile platform such that the mobile portion receives the laser beam from the fixed portion; anda projection system on the mobile platform, wherein the projection system receives the laser beam from the mobile portion and projects the laser beam onto the surface of the region of the structure and wherein the laser beam causes a number of ultrasonic waves to form within the structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19)
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12. A laser ultrasound testing system comprising:
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a laser system located outside of an area that includes a region of a structure to be inspected, wherein the laser system is configured to emit a laser beam and a detection laser beam through an output of the laser system; a mobile platform located within the area, wherein the mobile platform is a robotic vehicle configured to move on a surface of the structure; an alignment system configured to direct the laser beam towards the mobile platform as the mobile platform moves on the surface of the structure, the alignment system comprising a fixed portion and a mobile portion, wherein the fixed portion has a fixed position relative to the output of the laser system, and the mobile portion is positioned on the mobile platform; and
wherein the fixed portion steers the laser beam towards the mobile portion on the mobile platform such that the mobile portion receives the laser beam from the fixed portion; anda projection system on the mobile platform, wherein the projection system receives the laser beam and the detection laser beam from the mobile portion, and projects the laser beam and the detection laser beam onto the surface of the region of the structure and wherein the laser beam causes a number of ultrasonic waves to form within the structure. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for inspecting a structure, the method comprising:
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positioning a mobile platform within an area that includes a region of the structure to be inspected, wherein the mobile platform is a robotic vehicle configured to move on a surface of the structure; emitting a laser beam from a laser system located outside of the area steering the laser beam from an output of the laser system to direct the laser beam from the laser system towards the mobile platform such that the mobile platform receives the laser beam from the laser system as the mobile platform moves on the surface of the structure; and projecting the laser beam received by the mobile platform onto the surface of the region of the structure at a location selected for inspection by a projection system on the mobile platform, wherein a number of ultrasonic waves are formed in the structure in response to the laser beam impacting the surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification