US 12,360,057 B2
Laser shearography end effector for industrial robot system
John Tomblin, Wichita, KS (US); Waruna Seneviratne, Wichita, KS (US); Caleb Saathoff, 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 Oct. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/049,462.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/271,529, filed on Oct. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0146116 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/04 (2006.01); G01N 21/95 (2006.01); G01N 21/84 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/9515 (2013.01) [B25J 15/0019 (2013.01); B25J 15/0491 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8472 (2013.01); G01N 2201/021 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laser shearography end effector for inspection in an automated inspection and repair system for composite parts, the laser shearography end effector comprising:
a frame;
a laser shearography system supported on the frame for movement with the frame, the laser shearography system including an excitation system and a laser shearography camera; and
a slave tool changer secured to the frame, the slave tool changer configured to releasably and operatively connect the laser shearography end effector to an industrial robot such that the industrial robot can move the laser shearography end effector along a work piece for inspecting the work piece and such that the laser shearography end effector is interchangeable with at least one other automatic inspection end effector or repair end effector of the automated inspection and repair system.