Autonomous inspection of a surface topology of an airfoil of a gas turbine engine

An autonomous device for inspecting surface topology of an airfoil of a gas turbine engine, the autonomous device comprising:

• a body;
• means for coupling the body to the airfoil in a manner that permits movement of the body across the airfoil while remaining coupled thereto;
• means for moving the body across the airfoil while remaining coupled thereto;
• a plurality of topological sensors extending from the body to the airfoil when the body is coupled thereto, each of the plurality of topological sensors including:
• a piezoelectric sensor that generates an electrical signal indicative of a loading to the piezoelectric sensor;
• an airfoil contacting member extending between the piezoelectric sensor and the airfoil when the body is coupled thereto, thereby providing changes to the loading to the piezoelectric sensor in response to changes in the surface topology of the airfoil as the body moves thereacross;
• and
• a surface topology calculator attached to the body and electrically connected to the plurality of piezoelectric sensors and configured to locate defects in the surface topology of the airfoil based on the electrical signals generated by the plurality of piezoelectric sensors.