Automated mobile invertible measurement device
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKyle S. Biondich, Truong D. Pham, Zachary Talus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is utilized for measuring a circumference. The apparatus includes a body section, and at least one wheel rotatably attached to the body section. Additionally, at least one vacuum generating device is disposed on the body section, and is configured to generate an effective amount of vacuum between the body section and an adjacent arcuate surface which is sufficient to retain the body section against the arcuate surface. At least one of a reflector and a gap detector may also be affixed to the body section.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a body section;
- at least one wheel rotatably attached to the body section;
- at least one vacuum generating device, wherein said at least one vacuum generating device is disposed on said body section, and wherein said vacuum generating device is configured to generate an effective amount of vacuum between said body section and an adjacent arcuate surface sufficient to retain said body section against said arcuate surface that the apparatus is configured to traverse;
- and
- at least one of a reflector and a gap detector.
A method of obtaining a fuselage circumference comprising the steps of:
- utilizing an apparatus to traverse said fuselage circumference, the apparatus including:
- a body section;
- at least one wheel rotatably attached to the body section;
- at least one vacuum generating device, wherein said at least one vacuum generating device is disposed on said body section, and wherein said vacuum generating device is configured to generate an effective amount of vacuum between said body section and an adjacent arcuate surface sufficient to retain said body section against said arcuate surface that the apparatus is configured to traverse;
- and
- a reflector;
- utilizing a laser tracker to direct a laser to the reflector;
- directing the laser to the reflector at a plurality of positions;
- detecting a reflection of the laser from the reflector to determine the position of the apparatus on the fuselage at the plurality of positions;
- and
- determining the circumference of the fuselage based on the detected reflection at the plurality of positions.
A method of detecting a gap in a lap in a fuselage comprising the steps of:
- utilizing an apparatus to navigate along said fuselage, said apparatus including:
- a body section;
- at least one wheel rotatably attached to the body section;
- at least one vacuum generating device, wherein said at least one vacuum generating device is disposed on said body section, and wherein said vacuum generating device is configured to generate an effective amount of vacuum between said body section and an adjacent arcuate surface sufficient to retain said body section against said arcuate surface that the apparatus is configured to traverse;
- and
- a gap detector;
- causing the apparatus to drive along the fuselage;
- measuring a gap in a lap along the fuselage via the gap detector of the apparatus as the apparatus drives along the fuselage;
- recording, in a database, the gap detected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.