# US 2016/0076992 A1 · Robotically assisted flexible test and inspection system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0076992 A1 - Document ID: US20160076992A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/756,521 - Filed: 2015-09-14 - Published: 2016-03-17 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-14 - Assignees: Astronics Test Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Astronics Test Systems Inc. - Inventors: Jess Mathew Gillespie; Steven B. Richards; Gilberto Oseguera; Robert Chudzinski; David Johnston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160076992A1 ## CPC - G01N 21/01: Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation - B25J 9/1674: {characterised by safety, monitoring, diagnostic} - B25J 9/1697: {Vision controlled systems} - G01M 11/081: {by using a contact-less detection method, i.e. with a camera} - Y10S 901/02: Arm motion controller - Y10S 901/47: Optical - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A robotically assisted flexible test and inspection system that is portable and adaptable to test and/or inspect products is described. The test and inspection system is a compact system that can be moved easily to different locations and includes a robotic arm which is used for testing and inspection of a unit-under-test (UUT). The robotic arm can be used to activate different controls in the UUT or cause different functionality of the UUT to be tested. The robotic arm can use different tools such as a switch activator tool, to accomplish its tasks. The test and inspection system in one embodiment is a movable test cart, wherein the robotic arm is located in one of the shelves of the test rack and the UUT is located in another shelf of the test rack which has an aperture that presents portions of the UUT to the robotic arm. Another shelf or shelves of the moveable test rack can accommodate a test system controller, testing and inspection components/instruments, etc. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A robotically assisted test and inspection system, comprising: a test cart including first and second shelves, the first shelf for receiving a unit to be tested, the first shelf having one or more apertures; a robotic arm located on the second shelf; and a controller for controlling the robotic arm, the robotic arm activating one or more controls located on the unit to be tested that protrude through the one or more apertures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels coupled to the test cart. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a vision inspection camera located on the second shelf for visually inspecting a first side of the unit to be tested. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 3, further comprising: a second vision inspection camera mounted so that it can visually inspect a second side of the unit to be tested. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a support member coupled to the test cart for supporting a display monitor. ### Claim 6 A robotically assisted test and inspection system, comprising: a portable test cart including first and second shelves and one or more wheels; a unit-under-test (UUT) including first and second sides; a robotic arm located on the second shelf; the portable test cart's first shelf for receiving the UUT, the first shelf having one or more apertures which expose a portion of the first side of the UUT to the robotic arm when the UUT is placed on the first shelf; a camera support coupled to the first shelf; a camera coupled to the camera support, the camera positioned so that it can take images of the second side of the UUT when the UUT is placed on the first shelf; and a controller for controlling the robotic arm, the robotic arm activating one or more controls located on the UUT that are accessible through the one or more apertures of the first shelf. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 6, further comprising: a database coupled to the controller for storing information regarding the testing of the UUT. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 7, wherein the camera takes an image of the second side of the UUT and the controller compares the image to an image stored in the database in order to determine if the UUT was manufactured properly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 6, further comprising: a second camera located on the first shelf for taking an image of the first side of the UUT and the controller compares the image to an image stored in the database in order to determine if the UUT was manufactured properly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 9, further comprising: wherein the UUT includes a light located on its first side; and the second camera is used to determine if the light is operational by taking an image of the first side of the UUT when the controller causes the light to turn on during testing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 9, further comprising: a microphone located on the first shelf, the microphone used for detecting sounds generated by the UUT in response to the controller causing the UUT to emit a sound during testing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 6, wherein the first shelf is removable from the portable test cart. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 12, wherein an alternate first shelf can be attached to the portable test cart when the first shelf is removed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 13, wherein the alternate first shelf includes one or more apertures for accepting a different UUT having different dimensions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A robotically assisted test and inspection system as defined in claim 14, further comprising: a remote database coupled to the controller.