US 12,078,469 B2
Inspection method and associated computer software
Daniel Constantinis, Naxxar (MT)
Assigned to E M & I (MARITIME) LIMITED, Saint Helier (GB)
Appl. No. 17/046,272
Filed by E M & I (MARITIME) LIMITED, Saint Helier (GB)
PCT Filed Apr. 10, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/051039
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 8, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/197826, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 17, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1805923 (GB), filed on Apr. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0080249 A1, Mar. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. G01B 11/06 (2006.01); G01B 11/03 (2006.01); G01B 11/24 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01); G06F 30/20 (2020.01)
CPC G01B 11/06 (2013.01) [G01B 11/03 (2013.01); G01B 11/24 (2013.01); G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G06F 30/20 (2020.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of inspecting a vessel, the method comprising:
positioning a laser scanner relative to at least a portion of the vessel;
laser scanning a first surface of the portion of the vessel to obtain a first data set associated with the first surface of the portion of the vessel;
laser scanning a second surface of the portion of the vessel to obtain a second data set associated with the second surface of the portion of the vessel;
wherein the first surface is associated with a first side of the portion of the vessel, and the second surface is associated with a second side of the portion of the vessel, the second surface being separated from the first surface by a thickness of the portion of the vessel therebetween;
wherein the first surface comprises an inside of the portion of the vessel, and the second surface comprises an outside of the portion of the vessel, such that the method comprises a double-sided scanning;
generating a model or simulation indicative of the first surface in dependence on the obtained first data set; and
determining the thickness of the portion of the vessel in dependence on the generated model or simulation.