Sensor based assembly tooling improvements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assembly particularly addressed to the assembly of automobiles and aircraft done with reconfigurable modular and "intelligent" tooling fixtures (also called jigs, or holding fixtures). Much of the capability of the system is brought by the optical or other non-contact sensing devices incorporated with the tools to provide information on part location, tooling detail location, and automation (such as robots), used to load, weld, rivet, or otherwise perform work with parts in the tool. A preferred version of the invention uses 3-dimensional stereo and/or other simpler electro-optical ranging and feature location sensors operating in real time to perform numerous measurements of location of critical features of assembly tools and the parts placed within them, to even include detection of abnormal features such as missing holes or welds. The computer system associated with the sensors builds up a data base of part condition before, during and after welding (or other working or assembly function within the tool). This data base is used automatically, or by an engineer or operator, to continuously improve the process and to feed data to related processes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.