Automated fastener system and method having fastener conductivity testing

An automated fastener system having fastener conductivity testing for an aircraft fastener, the automated fastener system comprising:

• an automated fastener holder assembly having one or more fastener holders holding and dispensing one or more aircraft fasteners, wherein each of the one or more aircraft fasteners is made of a base fastener material comprising, a metal material, including titanium, aluminum, nickel, steel, copper, silver, or zinc;
• or a metal alloy material, including a nickel-chromium alloy, brass, bronze, a titanium alloy, an aluminum alloy, a nickel alloy, a steel alloy, a copper alloy, a silver alloy, or a zinc alloy;
• an automated fastener shuttle assembly having one or more shuttle cups, wherein a selected shuttle cup receives a selected aircraft fastener from the one or more fastener holders, and transports the selected aircraft fastener in the selected shuttle cup;
• an automated fastener inspection system having an inspection center shaft, and two or more inspection gripper fingers configured to pick up the selected aircraft fastener from the selected shuttle cup, configured to grip and to inspect the selected aircraft fastener, and configured to release the selected aircraft fastener;
• an automated delivery system having a delivery device configured to transport the selected aircraft fastener away from the automated fastener inspection system;
• an automated fastener installation system having an end effector with an end effector center shaft, and two or more end effector gripper fingers configured to pick up the selected aircraft fastener from the delivery device transported by the automated delivery system, and configured to install the selected aircraft fastener in an aircraft structure;
• an automated eddy current conductivity probe system comprising an eddy current conductivity probe assembly integrated in one of, the one or more shuttle cups, the inspection center shaft, the two or more inspection gripper fingers, the end effector center shaft, or the two or more end effector gripper fingers, the eddy current conductivity probe assembly contacting the selected aircraft fastener to perform the fastener conductivity testing and to obtain an electrical conductivity measurement of the selected aircraft fastener;
• and
• a processing system to process the electrical conductivity measurement, the processing system comprising a computer system with a computer having a computer console, and a computer software program implementing a control logic,
• wherein the control logic implemented by the computer software program compares the electrical conductivity measurement of the selected aircraft fastener against a predetermined electrical conductivity value range of a predetermined fastener material, to obtain a fastener material determination of the selected aircraft fastener, and to accept or to reject the selected aircraft fastener based on the fastener material determination.

An automated method of performing fastener conductivity testing in an automated fastener system, the automated method comprising:

• providing the automated fastener system comprising:
• an automated fastener holder assembly holding and dispensing one or more fasteners, wherein each of the one or more fasteners is made of a base fastener material comprising, a metal material, including titanium, aluminum, nickel, steel, copper, silver, or zinc;
• or a metal alloy material, including a nickel-chromium alloy, brass, bronze, a titanium alloy, an aluminum alloy, a nickel alloy, a steel alloy, a copper alloy, a silver alloy, or a zinc alloy;
• an automated fastener shuttle assembly having one or more shuttle cups, wherein a selected shuttle cup receives a selected fastener from the automated fastener holder assembly, and transports the selected fastener in the selected shuttle cup;
• an automated fastener inspection system having an inspection center shaft, and two or more inspection gripper fingers configured to pick up, to inspect, and to release the selected fastener;
• an automated delivery system having a delivery device configured to transport the selected fastener;
• an automated fastener installation system having an end effector with an end effector center shaft, and two or more end effector gripper fingers configured to pick up the selected fastener from the delivery device transported by the automated delivery system, and configured to install the selected fastener in a structure;
• an automated eddy current conductivity probe system comprising an eddy current conductivity probe assembly integrated in one of, the one or more shuttle cups, the inspection center shaft, the two or more inspection gripper fingers, the end effector center shaft, or the two or more end effector gripper fingers;
• and
• a processing system comprising a computer system with a computer having a computer console, and a computer software program implementing a control logic;
• performing the fastener conductivity testing on the selected fastener, by contacting the selected fastener with the eddy current conductivity probe assembly integrated in one of, the one or more shuttle cups, the inspection center shaft, the two or more inspection gripper fingers, the end effector center shaft, or the two or more end effector gripper fingers, to obtain an electrical conductivity measurement of the selected fastener;
• using the control logic of the processing system to compare the electrical conductivity measurement of the selected fastener against a predetermined electrical conductivity value range of a predetermined fastener material, to obtain a fastener material determination of the selected fastener;
• and
• accepting or rejecting the selected fastener based on the fastener material determination.