Surface measurement, selection, and machining

A computer-implemented method for determining a representation of a surface to be machined, the method comprising:

• measuring a plurality of surface points at each of a plurality of surface measurement locations with a measurement system movable over a surface to be machined;
• measuring the position of the measurement system;
• determining, using one or more processors, an estimated shape for the surface to be machined based on the surface measurements at the surface measurement locations;
• and
• storing the surface measurements, the surface measurement locations, and the estimated shape in computer memory.

A system for determining a representation of a surface to be machined, the system comprising;

• means for measuring a plurality of surface points at each of a plurality of surface measurement locations, the measuring means movable over a surface to be machined;
• means for measuring the position of the measuring means;
• means for determining an estimated shape for the surface to be machined based on the surface measurements at the surface measurement locations;
• and
• means for storing the surface measurements, the surface measurement locations, and the estimated shape.

A system for determining a representation of a surface to be machined, the system comprising:

• a measurement cart movable in an automated manner over a surface to be machined, the measurement cart comprising:
• rollers adapted to contact and move over the surface to be machined,
• a motor to drive the rollers, and
• a laser scanner adapted to measure a plurality of surface points at each of a plurality of surface measurement locations;
• a central station and an arm rotatably coupled to the central station and extending to the cart, the arm adapted to cause the cart to move around the central station;
• a laser tracking system located near the central station and adapted to measure the location and orientation of the laser scanner, the laser tracking system comprising:
• a laser source located away from the surface to be machined,
• a sensor co-located with the laser source, the sensor adapted to measure the location of the laser scanner, and
• a laser target coupled to the laser scanner, the laser target adapted to measure the orientation of the laser scanner;
• and
• a computer system coupled to the cart and the laser tracking system and adapted to receive the surface measurements from the laser scanner and the laser scanner orientations and the laser scanner locations from the laser tracking system, a plurality of the laser scanner locations corresponding to the surface measurement locations, to determine an estimated shape for the surface to be machined based on the surface measurements at the surface measurement locations, and to store the surface measurements, the surface measurement locations, and the estimated shape.