# US 10,371,646 B2 · Method and system for automated data collection and part validation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,646 B2 - Document ID: US10371646B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/269,033 - Filed: 2016-09-19 - Published: 2018-03-22 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-19 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Mark James Boyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371646B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/95: characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined (G01N21/89 - G01N21/91, G01N21/94 take precedence) - B25J 9/0018: {Bases fixed on ceiling, i.e. upside down manipulators} - B25J 9/046: {Revolute coordinate type} - B25J 18/025: {telescopic} - G01N 21/9515: {Objects of complex shape, e.g. examined with use of a surface follower device (measuring contours and curvatures G01B11/24)} - G01N 2201/06113: Coherent sources; lasers - G01N 2201/10: Scanning - Y10S 901/44: inspection - Y10S 901/47: Optical - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract An inspection system comprises a crane system, a six axis, one hundred and fifty degree articulating robotic arm, a laser inspection system, and a communications system. The robotic arm is connected to a base of the crane system. The laser inspection system is connected to the robotic arm. The communications system is configured to send and receive instructions for the crane system, the robotic arm, and the laser inspection system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inspection system comprising: a crane system; a six-axis articulating robotic arm, wherein the robotic arm is connected to a base of the crane system; a laser inspection system connected to the robotic arm; a communications system configured to send and receive instructions for the crane system, the robotic arm, and the laser inspection system; and a wireless device configured to activate movement of at least one of the crane system or the robotic arm for inspection of a structure using the laser inspection system, wherein the wireless device is configured to send movement instructions generated based on operator input selected from a menu of options, and wherein the options comprise one of a type of part and a type of inspection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the crane system comprises a track system, wherein the base of the crane system travels in at least one of an x-direction or a y-direction within a manufacturing environment along the track system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is configured to trigger generation of movement instructions for at least one of the crane system or the robotic arm by a computer system based on facility geometry. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm is connected to the base by a telescoping arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein components of the communications system are configured to send and receive wireless signals in a range of 400-650 mHz to send and receive instructions for the crane system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein components of the communications system are configured to send and receive wireless signals in a range of 2.4-5.0 Ghz to send and receive instructions for the robotic arm. ### Claim 7 An inspection system comprising: a crane system having a base and a track system, wherein the base of the crane system travels in at least one of an x-direction or a y-direction in a manufacturing environment along the track system; a telescoping arm connected to the base of the crane system; a six-axis articulating robotic arm connected to the telescoping arm; a laser inspection system connected to the robotic arm; a wireless device configured to activate movement of at least one of the crane system, the telescoping arm, or the robotic arm for inspection of a structure within the manufacturing environment by the laser inspection system, wherein movement instructions for movement of the at least one of the crane system, the telescoping arm, or the robotic arm are generated based on operator input selected from a menu of options wherein the options comprise one of a type of part and a type of inspection; and a communications system configured to send and receive instructions for the crane system, the robotic arm, and the laser inspection system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The inspection system of claim 7 further comprising: a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing system configured to generate a vector offset program to move the robotic arm to inspect a structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The inspection system of claim 8, wherein the computer-aided design/computer aided manufacturing system is further configured to compare data generated by the laser inspection system for the structure to a three-dimensional model of the structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The inspection system of claim 7, wherein a computer system is configured to generate a program to drive the base of the crane system towards a structure within the manufacturing environment to be inspected based on facility geometry. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the wireless device is configured to send movement instructions generated based on operator input. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the wireless device is configured to trigger generation of movement instructions for at least one of the crane system or the robotic arm by a computer system based on facility geometry. ### Claim 13 A method of inspecting a structure in a manufacturing environment, the method comprising: driving a base of a crane system within the manufacturing environment; moving a robotic arm connected to the base relative to the base, wherein the robotic arm is an articulating robotic arm; and forming inspection data for the structure using a laser inspection system connected to the robotic arm during at least one of driving the base of the crane system or moving the robotic arm; and generating instructions for at least one of driving the base of the crane system or moving the robotic arm based on user input received on a wireless device, wherein the instructions are generated based on operator input selected from a menu of options, and wherein the options comprise one of a type of part and a type of inspection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising: generating instructions for at least one of driving the base of the crane system or moving the robotic arm based on facility geometry stored on a computer system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising: comparing inspection data for the structure to a three-dimensional model of the structure to form results. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising: changing a length of a telescoping arm positioned between the robotic arm and the base of the crane system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising: disabling manual crane controls prior to driving the base of the crane system or moving the robotic arm.