Metrology system for positioning assemblies

An apparatus comprising:

• a support system configured to hold a structure, wherein the support system comprises a plurality of supports and wherein each of the plurality of supports comprises a supporting member connected to the structure;
• a metrology system that generates metrology data for the plurality of supports comprising the support system while the support system holds the structure, wherein the metrology system comprises:
• a group of transmitters configured to emit signals from positions relative to the support system;
• a plurality of target systems associated with the supports comprising the support system, wherein each target system in the plurality of target systems comprises at least three sensors, and wherein the plurality of target systems is configured to receive the signals and generate position information to form the metrology data;
• and
• a controller that receives the metrology data, determines whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of a selected configuration for the structure based on the metrology data, and generates commands for moving the support system to move the structure into the selected configuration in response to a determination that the current configuration of the structure is not within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure.

A method of maintaining a selected configuration for a structure, the method comprising:

• generating, by a controller, metrology data by:
• emitting signals from a group of transmitters positioned relative to a support system, wherein the global coordinate system is defined with respect to the group of transmitters;
• receiving the signals at a target system associated with the support in the plurality of supports;
• generating position information by the target system to form the metrology data;
• receiving, by a controller, metrology data for a plurality of supports comprising the support system while the support system holds the structure, each of the plurality of supports comprises a supporting member connected to the structure;
• identifying, by the controller, a local coordinate system for a support in the plurality of supports of the support system using the metrology data;
• comparing, by the controller, the local coordinate system to a global coordinate system to determine whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure;
• and
• moving the supporting member of the support connected to the structure, by the controller, to move the structure held by the support system into the selected configuration in response to a determination that the current configuration of the structure is not within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure.