Metrology supported tomography system and methods of use

A metrology supported tomography system that comprises:

• an imaging system comprising a radiation source and a radiation detector, wherein the radiation source is connected to a robot configured to move the radiation source in a trajectory of less than 360 degrees around a part of an aircraft and comprises a size and a power sufficient to radiate joints within the part;
• an independent tracking system comprising a first tracking target connected to the radiation source and a second tracking target connected to the radiation detector;
• and
• a tomography computation program configured to:
• filter detected radiation;
• and
• create a three-dimensional reconstruction utilizing data from the imaging system in combination with locations of the first tracking target and the second tracking target determined by the independent tracking system.

A method of inspecting an aircraft, the method comprising:

• moving a robot connected to a radiation source in a trajectory of less than 360 degrees around a part of an aircraft, the radiation source comprising a size and a power sufficient for radiating joints within the part;
• generating images of the aircraft using an imaging system comprising the radiation source and a radiation detector;
• determining, using an independent tracking system, source locations for the radiation source and detector locations for the radiation detector when each of the images is generated;
• and
• a tomography computational program in a computer system filtering detected radiation, coordinating with data from the independent tracking system, and creating a three-dimensional reconstruction utilizing the images from the imaging system, the source locations, and the detector locations.