US 12,269,220 B2
Joint autonomous repair verification and inspection system
John S. Tomblin, Wichita, KS (US); Waruna Seneviratne, Wichita, KS (US); Caleb Saathoff, Wichita, KS (US); John Matthew Tomblin, Wichita, KS (US); and Christopher Pini, Wichita, KS (US)
Assigned to WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY, Wichita, KS (US)
Filed by Wichita State University, Wichita, KS (US)
Filed on May 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/828,558.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/194,460, filed on May 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0052634 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/82 (2006.01); B29C 73/00 (2006.01); B29C 73/10 (2006.01); B29C 73/26 (2006.01); B29L 31/08 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 65/8253 (2013.01) [B29C 73/10 (2013.01); B29C 73/26 (2013.01); B29L 2031/082 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for inspecting composite parts, the system comprising:
a support for supporting a composite part;
an inspection system comprising at least one nondestructive testing instrument configured to scan the composite part supported by the support to generate nondestructive testing data about the composite part;
a damage assessment system configured to present the nondestructive testing data for assessment of damage to the composite part based on the nondestructive testing data; and
a robot comprising a tool changer;
wherein the at least one nondestructive testing instrument comprises a plurality of nondestructive testing instruments of different types, each nondestructive testing instrument comprising a tool changer mount for operatively coupling the respective nondestructive testing instrument to the tool changer of the robot;
wherein the tool changer is configured to releasably connect to the tool changer mount of each of the plurality of nondestructive testing instruments such that the tool changer mounts the respective nondestructive testing instrument on the robot for movement with the robot in relation to the other nondestructive testing instruments;
wherein the system is configured to conduct a plurality of different types of nondestructive tests of the composite part supported by the support by instructing the robot to sequentially connect to each of the plurality of nondestructive testing instruments, move the respective nondestructive testing instrument in relation to the composite part, and operate the respective nondestructive testing instrument to scan the composite part.