Automated Inspection of Aircraft.
Abstract
This report describes the development of a robotic system designed to assist aircraft inspectors by remotely deploying nondestructive inspection (NDI) sensors and acquiring, processing, and storing inspection data. During a preliminary phase of work under this program, Carnegie Mellon University studied the task of aircraft inspection, compiled the functional requirements for an automated system to inspect skin fastener rows, and developed a conceptual design of an inspection robot. A prototype of the robotic inspection system (the Automated NonDestructive Inspector or ANDI) has been developed. The first phase of system development resulted in a laboratory system that was able to demonstrate the abilities to adhere to the surface of an aircraft panel and to deploy a standard eddy-current sensor. This report describes the most recent developments in the program. The major accomplishments of the phase include: Enhancing the mechanics, adding video cameras to the robot for navigation, adding an onboard computer for low-level task sequencing, and demonstrating the system at the FAA's Aging Aircraft NDI Validation Center (AANC) during the 1994 Air Transport Association NDT Forum.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA314438
Entities
People
- C. J. Alberts
- C. W. Carroll
- M. W. Siegel
- W. M. Kaufman
Organizations
- Carnegie Mellon University