Automated assessment of aircraft structure damage

A method comprising:

• moving an autonomous vehicle around an aircraft according to a predetermined path, wherein the autonomous vehicle comprises a vertically extendable arm, wherein a camera module is attached to a distal end of the vertically extendable arm, and wherein the camera module comprises a first infrared camera, a second infrared camera, and a visible light camera;
• scanning an exterior surface of the aircraft using the first infrared camera, the second infrared camera, the visible light camera, or a combination thereof;
• determining whether a portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft is damaged based on the scan;
• and
• in response to the portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft being damaged:
• moving the autonomous vehicle to position the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera so that a base line between the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera is parallel with the portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft;
• rotating the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera so that the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are iteratively directed at points running along a dent in the portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft beginning at a starting point on a first side of the dent and ending at an ending point on a second side of the dent;
• for each point of the points running along the dent, determining a first angle in azimuth associated with the first infrared camera and a second angle in azimuth associated with the second infrared camera;
• and
• calculating distances between the base line and the points running along the dent using the first angle in azimuth and the second angle in azimuth for each point of the points, wherein the distances between the base line and the points running along the dent are used to generate a three-dimensional model of the portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft.

An apparatus comprising:

• a camera module comprising:
• a first infrared camera;
• a second infrared camera;
• and
• a visible light camera;
• an autonomous vehicle comprising a vertically extendable arm, wherein the camera module is attached to a distal end of the vertically extendable arm, wherein the autonomous vehicle is configured to move around an aircraft according to a predetermined path, wherein the camera module is configured to scan of an exterior surface of the aircraft using the first infrared camera, the second infrared camera, the visible light camera, or a combination thereof, wherein, in response to a portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft being damaged, the autonomous vehicle is configured to:
• position the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera so that a base line between the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera is parallel with the portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft;
• and
• rotate the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera so that the first infrared camera and the second infrared camera are iteratively directed at points running along a dent in the portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft beginning at a starting point on a first side of the dent and ending at an ending point on a second side of the dent;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• for each point of the points running along the dent, determine a first angle in azimuth associated with the first infrared camera and a second angle in azimuth associated with the second infrared camera;
• and
• calculate distances between the base line and the points running along the dent using the first angle in azimuth and the second angle in azimuth for each point of the points, wherein the distances between the base line and the points running along the dent are used to generate a three-dimensional model of the portion of the exterior surface of the aircraft.