US 12,306,638 B2
Methods and scan systems for analyzing an object
Barry Fetzer, Renton, WA (US); Hong Hue Tat, Redmond, WA (US); and Baljinder Singh, Renton, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/526,831.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/115,399, filed on Nov. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0155795 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. G05D 1/00 (2024.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); G01B 11/00 (2006.01); G06F 16/29 (2019.01); G06T 7/73 (2017.01)
CPC G05D 1/0274 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1697 (2013.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); G01B 11/002 (2013.01); G05D 1/024 (2013.01); G06F 16/29 (2019.01); G06T 7/73 (2017.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of analyzing an object that includes at least a region of an aircraft, the method comprising:
obtaining a local operation dataset that includes a plurality of operation data points obtained from the object and a corresponding local location, within an operation coordinate system, for each operation data point of the plurality of operation data points, wherein the obtaining the local operation dataset includes performing an operation on the object with a robot to generate the local operation dataset, and further wherein the performing the operation includes:
(i) moving the robot relative to the object and to a plurality of distinct local locations within the operation coordinate system; and
(ii) collecting a corresponding test result at each distinct local location; and
mapping the plurality of operation data points from the operation coordinate system to a global coordinate system for the object, which differs from the operation coordinate system, to generate a global operation dataset that includes the plurality of operation data points and a corresponding global location, within the global coordinate system for the object, for each operation data point;
wherein the method further includes utilizing the global operation dataset to determine a location of a defect within the object;
wherein the method includes comparing the defect to a predetermined defect tolerance, wherein the predetermined defect tolerance is a location-specific predetermined defect tolerance that varies with location within the operation coordinate system; and
further wherein the method includes at least one of:
(i) scrapping the object when the defect is outside the predetermined defect tolerance;
(ii) reworking the object when the defect is outside the predetermined defect tolerance; and
(iii) approving the object for utilization when the defect is within the predetermined defect tolerance.