Dynamic dimensional measurement system

A system for determining an optimal clocking orientation of an aircraft structure at which to attach one or more arcuate frame assemblies to the aircraft structure, comprising:

• a plurality of radiation devices mounted on an aircraft structure, the aircraft structure potentially having a first as-built aircraft structure configuration that differs from an as-designed aircraft structure configuration;
• a plurality of transceivers configured to emit radiation toward the aircraft structure and receive radiation from the radiation devices and continuously generate distance measurements between the transceivers and the radiation devices during rotation of the aircraft structure about at least one rotational axis;
• a processor communicatively coupled to the transceivers and configured to continuously determine, based on the distance measurements, additional unique as-built aircraft structure configurations corresponding to changing clocking orientations of the aircraft structure during rotation;
• and
• the processor configured to continuously compare the first and the additional as-built aircraft structure configurations to the as-designed aircraft structure configuration and, after completion of the rotation of the aircraft structure through at least a portion of one revolution about the at least one rotational axis, determine an optimal clocking orientation at which the as-built aircraft structure configuration has the smallest deviation from the as-designed aircraft structure configuration.

A method of determining an optimal clocking orientation of an object at which to attach mating structure to the object, comprising:

• supporting an object on an assembly fixture having at least one rotational axis, the object having a plurality of radiation devices mounted on the object, the object potentially having a first as-built object configuration that differs from an as-designed object configuration;
• rotating the assembly fixture and object about the at least one rotational axis;
• continuously scanning, using a plurality of transceivers, the object and continuously generating distance measurements between the transceivers and the radiation devices during rotation of the object;
• continuously determining, using the distance measurements transmitted to a processor, additional unique as-built object configurations based on the distance measurements, each as-built object configuration corresponding to a unique clocking orientation of the object during rotation;
• continuously comparing the first and the additional as-built object configurations to the as-designed object configuration;
• and
• determining, after completion of the rotation of the object through at least a portion of one revolution about the at least one rotational axis, an optimal clocking orientation at which the as-built object configuration has the smallest deviation from the as-designed object configuration.