The Boeing Company
System and method for continual localization of scanner using non-destructive inspection data

Abstract:

Systems and methods for tracking the location of a non-destructive inspection (NDI) scanner using scan data converted into images of a target object. Scan images are formed by aggregating successive scan strips acquired using one or two one-dimensional sensor arrays. An image processor constructs and then compares successive partially overlapping scan images that include common features corresponding to respective structural features of the target object. The image processor is further configured to compute a change in location of the NDI scanner relative to a previous location based on the respective positions of those common features in the partially overlapping scan images. This relative physical distance is then added to the previous (old) absolute location estimate to obtain the current (new) absolute location of the NDI scanner.