The Boeing Company
Methods for inspecting structures having non-planar surfaces using location alignment feedback

Abstract:

Systems and methods for non-destructive inspection (NDI) of target objects having non-planar surfaces (such as aircraft components having internal stiffeners). A robotic NDI platform is equipped with an NDI sensor and a laser-based alignment system. The laser-based alignment system is operated in a manner to acquire surface profile information in an area of interest on a non-planar surface of the target object. Then the acquired surface profile data is processed by a computer to generate a motion plan for automatically guiding the robotic NDI platform and the NDI sensor to the correct locations, where images of the area of interest may be captured.