System and method for measuring deformation of an object in a fluid tunnel
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDonna E. Stonner, Ronald L. Goodman, Michael E. Benne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A monitoring system for monitoring a test article includes a scanning system and a computer system. The test article may be positioned within a fluid tunnel. The scanning system may be configured to scan the test article and record positional data of at least one point on an article surface of the test article. The computer system is in communication with the scanning system for receiving the positional data and being operative to determine at least one of the following: a position of the test article, an attitude of the test article, and deformation of the article surface.
Claims25
A monitoring system for monitoring a test article having at least one article surface and being positioned within a fluid tunnel, the monitoring system comprising:
- a scanning system mounted to the fluid tunnel and being configured to scan the test article and record positional data of at least one point on the article surface;
- and
- a computer system in communication with the scanning system for receiving the positional data and being operative to determine at least one of the following:
- a position of the test article;
- an attitude of the test article;
- deformation of the article surface.
A monitoring system for monitoring a test article having at least one article surface and being positioned within a fluid tunnel, the monitoring system comprising:
- a scanning system configured to scan the test article and record positional data of at least one point on the article surface;
- and
- a computer system in communication with the scanning system for receiving the positional data and being operative to determine at least one of the following:
- a position of the test article;
- an attitude of the test article;
- deformation of the article surface;
- the computer system being operative to generate a point cloud based on the positional data and reconstruct the point cloud to generate a digital model of the test article.
A monitoring system for monitoring a test article having at least one article surface and being positioned within a fluid tunnel and supported by a support mechanism, the monitoring system comprising:
- a scanning system configured to scan the test article and record positional data of at least one point on the article surface, the scanning system being configured to scan the support mechanism while scanning the test article;
- and
- a computer system in communication with the scanning system for receiving the positional data and being operative to determine at least one of the following:
- a position of the test article;
- an attitude of the test article;
- deformation of the article surface;
- deflection of the support mechanism.
A monitoring system for monitoring a test article having at least one article surface and being positioned within a fluid tunnel having at least one tunnel wall, the monitoring system comprising:
- a scanning system configured to scan the test article and record positional data of at least one point on the article surface, the scanning system being configured to scan the tunnel wall while scanning the test article;
- and
- a computer system in communication with the scanning system for receiving the positional data and being operative to determine at least one of the following:
- a position of the test article;
- an attitude of the test article;
- deformation of the article surface;
- displacement of the tunnel wall.
A monitoring system for generating an image of a test article having at least one article surface and being positioned within a fluid tunnel, the monitoring system comprising:
- a scanning system configured to scan the test article and record positional data of at least one point on the article surface;
- and
- a computer system in communication with the scanning system for receiving the positional data, forming a point cloud of the article surface, reconstructing the point cloud to generate a digital model of the test article, and displaying the digital model.
A method of controlling a test article within a fluid tunnel, comprising the steps of:
- scanning the test article using a scanning system mounted to the fluid tunnel to determine a current attitude of the test article;
- determining a difference between the current attitude and a desired attitude of the test article;
- and
- adjusting the attitude of the test article by an amount equal to the difference.
A method of controlling a test article within a fluid tunnel, the test article being supported by a support mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
- scanning the test article to determine a current attitude of the test article;
- determining a difference between the current attitude and a desired attitude of the test article;
- adjusting the attitude of the test article by an amount equal to the difference.
- scanning the support mechanism while scanning the test article;
- determining a deflection of the support mechanism;
- and
- compensating for the deflection of the support mechanism when adjusting the attitude of the test article.
A method of controlling a test article within a fluid tunnel comprising the steps of:
- scanning the test article to determine a current attitude of the test article;
- determining a difference between the current attitude and a desired attitude of the test article;
- adjusting the attitude of the test article by an amount equal to the difference.
- recording positional data of a plurality of points on an article surface of the test article when scanning the test article;
- generating a point cloud based on the positional data;
- and
- reconstructing the point cloud to generate a digital model of the test article.
A method of real-time visualization of a test article within a fluid tunnel, the method comprising the steps of:
- scanning the test article;
- generating a point cloud;
- reconstructing the point cloud to generate a digital model of the test article;
- and
- displaying the digital model.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.