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US 2019/0101449 A1Published application
Automated thermographic inspection for composite structures
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsPrescott Gee Glynn, Robert Todd Marks, Steven McGinnis, Armando Medina Romero, Mark Gerald Munster, JR., Adrian Timothy Wallace
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Abstract
Methods for detecting irregularities in a composite structure can include obtaining temperature data from a surface of the composite structure while the composite structure undergoes a thermal change. An irregularity in the composite structure is detected based on the temperature data.
Claims20
A method to detect irregularities in a composite structure, the method comprising:
- inducing a temperature change on an exposed surface of a composite structure with respect to a substrate of the composite structure;
- after inducing the temperature change, generating temperature data for the exposed surface of the composite structure;
- and
- detecting an irregularity in the composite structure based on the temperature data.
1 more element
A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- generating temperature data for a composite structure that is undergoing a thermal change, the temperature data being indicative of surface temperatures of the composite structure, and the thermal change corresponding to an outer layer of the composite structure changing temperature in response to transferring thermal energy to or from a substrate within the composite structure;
- and
- detecting an irregularity in the composite structure based on the temperature data by detecting an anomalous temperature at an exposed surface of the outer layer.
A system to detect irregularities in a composite structure, the system comprising:
- a heating or cooling mechanism operable to induce a temperature change on an exposed surface of a composite structure;
- a sensor operable to generate temperature data for the exposed surface of the composite structure;
- and
- a management component comprising a processor and memory containing instructions, the instructions executable by the processor to cause the management component to:
- cause the heating or cooling mechanism to induce a temperature change on the exposed surface of the composite structure with respect to a substrate of the composite structure;
- after the temperature change has been applied to the exposed surface of the composite structure, cause the thermographic sensor to generate the temperature data for the exposed surface of the composite structure;
- and
- process the temperature data to determine whether the composite structure includes an irregularity, the irregularity being indicative of damage and/or a manufacturing defect.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.