US 12,360,082 B1
Systems and methods for remote, automated non-destructive inspection
Joshua Paquette, Albuquerque, NM (US); Dennis P. Roach, Albuquerque, NM (US); Thomas M. Rice, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Clay S. Newton, Cedar Crest, NM (US)
Assigned to National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/545,780.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/123,345, filed on Dec. 9, 2020.
Int. Cl. G01N 29/04 (2006.01); G01N 29/06 (2006.01); G05B 19/19 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 29/048 (2013.01) [G01N 29/069 (2013.01); G05B 19/19 (2013.01); G05B 2219/45098 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inspection system, comprising:
a robot, comprising:
a mobile base comprising tread comprising vacuum slots for attaching the robot to a structure to be inspected and allowing the robot to move across the structure;
a vacuum motor connected to the vacuum slots for creating a vacuum that attaches the tread of the robot to the structure; and
an inspection module comprising an ultrasonic testing (UT) module for inspecting the structure and a control module; and
a control system, comprising:
a processor for receiving inspection instruction comprising visual inspection, fabrication data, maintenance databases, manufacturer recommendations, user trends assessments, and trends assessments created by previous inspections by the inspection system, the processor analyzing the inspection instructions to determine one or more inspection locations and executing commands determined by the analysis to navigate the robot to the one or more inspection locations on the structure and to perform UT at the one or more locations;
wherein the processor determines the severity of damage at the one or more inspection locations on the structure.