公开(公告)号：US10791276B2

公开(公告)日：2020-09-29

申请号：US15890105

申请日：2018-02-06

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Barry A. Fetzer ,  James J. Troy ,  Gary E. Georgeson

IPC: H04N5/232 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G01B11/14 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G06T7/174 ,  G06K9/32

Abstract: An improved mechanism for calibrating a local positioning system through the use of passive or retro-reflective markers is described herein. A plurality of imaging targets with the passive or retro-reflective markers may be attached or affixed on a surface of an object. The local positioning system may then capture a first image of the imaging targets in a non-illuminated state and further capture a second image of the imaging targets in an illuminated state. A difference image between the first and second captured images may be computed and then segmented. The local positioning system may then identify the plurality of imaging targets based on the segmented difference image and position itself to extract information. The extracted information may then be used to help calibrate the local positioning system.

公开(公告)号：US20200018079A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-16

申请号：US16033438

申请日：2018-07-12

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Charles M. Richards ,  James J. Troy ,  Stephen G. Moore ,  Kurt F. Webster

IPC: E04G1/24 ,  E04G5/00

Abstract: A mover system that moves a work platform relative to a target object. The mover system includes a drive vehicle configured to be attached to the work platform. Sensors are attached to the work platform that detect a distance between the sensors and the target object. Signals from the sensors are used to determine an alignment angle used for the operation of the drive vehicle to move the work platform into alignment and spacing relative to the work object.

公开(公告)号：US20200003734A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-02

申请号：US16024347

申请日：2018-06-29

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： James J. Troy ,  Daniel J. Wright ,  Scott W. Lea ,  Gary Ernest Georgeson

IPC: G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/04 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N25/72

Abstract: A dual function non-destructive inspection apparatus comprises a frame structure, a thermographic inspection system, a displacement system, and an ultrasonic inspection system. The frame structure has a channel, a first end, and a second end. The channel extends through the frame structure from the first end to the second end. The thermographic inspection system is associated with the first end of the frame structure. The displacement system is connected to the second end of the frame structure. The ultrasonic inspection system is connected to the displacement system such that the displacement system moves the ultrasonic inspection system relative to the channel of the frame structure.

公开(公告)号：US20190389600A1

公开(公告)日：2019-12-26

申请号：US16014535

申请日：2018-06-21

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： James J. Troy ,  Christopher D. Esposito ,  Vladimir Karakusevic

IPC: B64F5/60 ,  G06T19/00 ,  G06F17/50 ,  G01S5/02

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for displaying a three-dimensional model image of a portion of a target object. An imaging device is equipped with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a processor configured to execute a three-dimensional (3-D) visualization application. The IMU is used to track movement of the imaging device relative to a known initial location in a frame of reference of the target object. Imaging device position offsets are computed using relative position and orientation information acquired by a dead-reckoning process. The processor is configured to execute an algorithm that combines orientation data from the IMU with walking step information to produce a piecewise linear approximation for relative motion measurement. The resulting relative location data can then be used by the 3-D visualization application to provide an estimated 3-D viewpoint to display a 3-D model of a feature in the imaged area of interest.

公开(公告)号：US20190256226A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-22

申请号：US15898724

申请日：2018-02-19

Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY

Inventor： Alireza Shapoury ,  James J. Troy ,  Gary Georgeson ,  Branko Sarh

IPC: B64F5/60 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/521 ,  G06T7/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G07C5/08 ,  G07C5/00 ,  B60L11/18

Abstract: An aircraft inspection system is configured to inspect one or more components of an aircraft before a flight. The aircraft inspection system includes an inspection robot that is configured to inspect the component(s) of the aircraft. The inspection robot includes a conveying sub-system that is configured to efficiently move the inspection robot to different locations, and a sensing sub-system including one or more sensors that are configured to sense one or more characteristics of the component(s) during an inspection. The sensing sub-system is configured to record the characteristic(s) as inspection data.

公开(公告)号：US10380469B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-13

申请号：US15207678

申请日：2016-07-12

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： James J. Troy ,  Christopher D. Esposito

IPC: G06K19/06 ,  G06T19/00 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G06K7/10 ,  G06K7/14 ,  G06F3/14 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06F3/147 ,  G06Q10/02 ,  G06Q10/00

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining locations of a device in an environment where features are present. Passive code pattern markers are used as unique location landmarks to provide on-demand location information to the user of the device in an abstract, landmark-based reference system that can then be mapped into an underlying physical 3-D coordinate system to give location coordinates that can be used by other tools to determine a viewpoint. For example, a 3-D visualization system can be configured to set a viewpoint so that an image concurrently generated by a computer system presents a scene which approximates the scene being viewed by the user in the physical world at that moment in time.

公开(公告)号：US20190098221A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-28

申请号：US15833094

申请日：2017-12-06

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： James J. Troy ,  Gary E. Georgeson ,  Scott W. Lea

IPC: H04N5/232 ,  G01C3/02 ,  G01B11/00 ,  G06T7/521 ,  G06T7/73

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the distance to a target object and acquiring three-dimensional coordinates, scale information, and point-to-point distance information for that target object in an environment using a remotely operated cable-suspended platform. The system uses on-board sensors and processing techniques to provide discrete or continuous measurements of the distances between points on a target object or the scale of the target object. The addition of on-board three-dimensional measurement capabilities to cable-suspended platforms enables these systems to acquire three-dimensional position data defined in the coordinate system of the environment, determine distances between objects or between points on the same object. The system can also be used to determine the scale factors of items in images captured by a camera carried by the cable-suspended platform, in the course of performing metrology-related tasks.

公开(公告)号：US10053165B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-21

申请号：US14966516

申请日：2015-12-11

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： James J. Troy ,  William P. Motzer ,  Scott W. Lea ,  James C. Kennedy ,  Michael C. Hutchinson

IPC: G05D7/00 ,  B62D49/06 ,  G01N29/26 ,  G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/04 ,  G01N29/22 ,  B62D63/06 ,  B62D63/08 ,  G01N29/28 ,  B64F5/60 ,  B64F5/40

CPC classification number: B62D49/0642 ,  B62D49/065 ,  B62D63/068 ,  B62D63/08 ,  B64F5/40 ,  B64F5/60 ,  G01N29/043 ,  G01N29/225 ,  G01N29/26 ,  G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/28 ,  G01N2291/0231 ,  G01N2291/26 ,  G01N2291/2694

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated maintenance of the top and bottom surfaces or skins of an integrally stiffened hollow structure (e.g., a horizontal stabilizer) using surface crawling vehicles. Each system uses dynamically controlled magnetic coupling to couple an external drive tractor to a pair of passive trailers disposed in the interior of the hollow structure on opposite sides of a vertical structural element. The external drive tractor is also coupled to an external maintenance tool, which the tractor pushes or pulls across the surface skin to perform a maintenance function. The systems allow maintenance operations to be performed on both surface skins without turning the hollow structure over. Each system is modular and can be transported to and easily set up in a building or factory.

公开(公告)号：US20180065762A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-08

申请号：US15809376

申请日：2017-11-10

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Gary E. Georgeson ,  Barry A. Fetzer ,  James J. Troy ,  Scott W. Lea

IPC: G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N29/06

CPC classification number: B64F5/60 ,  G01N29/0654 ,  G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N2291/0231 ,  G01N2291/0258 ,  G01N2291/0289 ,  G01N2291/2634 ,  G01N2291/2694

Abstract: Systems and methods for high-speed non-destructive inspection of a half- or full-barrel-shaped workpiece, such as a barrel-shaped section of an aircraft fuselage. Such workpieces can be scanned externally using a mobile (e.g., translating) arch gantry system comprising a translatable arch frame disposed outside the fuselage section, a carriage that can travel along a curved track carried by the arch frame, a radially inward-extending telescopic arm having a proximal end fixedly coupled to the carriage, and an NDI sensor unit coupled to a distal end of the telescoping arm. The stiffeners of the fuselage sections can be scanned using a mobile scanner platform disposed inside the fuselage section, which platform comprises a radially outward-extending telescopic arm rotatably coupled to a mobile (e.g., holonomic or linear motion) platform and an NDI sensor unit coupled to a distal end of the telescoping arm. The scan data is matched with position data acquired using any one of a plurality of tracking systems to enable the display of NDI features/flaws on a three-dimensional representation of the workpiece.

公开(公告)号：US09834323B2

公开(公告)日：2017-12-05

申请号：US14279355

申请日：2014-05-16

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Gary E. Georgeson ,  Barry A. Fetzer ,  James J. Troy ,  Scott W. Lea

IPC: B64F5/00 ,  G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/06 ,  G01N29/44

CPC classification number: B64F5/60 ,  B64F5/0045 ,  G01N29/0654 ,  G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N2291/0231 ,  G01N2291/0258 ,  G01N2291/0289 ,  G01N2291/2634 ,  G01N2291/2694

Abstract: Systems and methods for high-speed non-destructive inspection of a half- or full-barrel-shaped workpiece, such as a barrel-shaped section of an aircraft fuselage. Such workpieces can be scanned externally using a mobile (e.g., translating) arch gantry system comprising a translatable arch frame disposed outside the fuselage section, a carriage that can travel along a curved track carried by the arch frame, a radially inward-extending telescopic arm having a proximal end fixedly coupled to the carriage, and an NDI sensor unit coupled to a distal end of the telescoping arm. The stiffeners of the fuselage sections can be scanned using a mobile scanner platform disposed inside the fuselage section, which platform comprises a radially outward-extending telescopic arm rotatably coupled to a mobile (e.g., holonomic or linear motion) platform and an NDI sensor unit coupled to a distal end of the telescoping arm. The scan data is matched with position data acquired using any one of a plurality of tracking systems to enable the display of NDI features/flaws on a three-dimensional representation of the workpiece.