The Boeing Company

Blue Origin Manufacturing, LLC

Barry Theophile Cooke

Douglas J Weber

Bobby Joe Marsh

Kirk Douglas Skaggs

Richard Michael Coleman

Michael Marcus Vander Wel

Peter Hoang Bui

Michael Anthony Lazar

Aksel Bode

Leonard S Bodziony

Orval Marion Nobles

Joseph J McGahhey

Dario I Valenzuela

Michael D Richardson

Gavin R Ryan

Max L Mayfield

Christopher C Hamlet

James A DeLand

Michael J Swartz

David T Lammers

Douglas V Dorsey

Andrew S Olson

Kinson D Vanscotter

Robert Allen Davey

Ngan Minh Dinh

Joseph Alan Leander

Kevin Ronald Puzey

Paul Alan Koopman

Richard M Coleman

Aerospace systems, and systems and methods for assembling an aerospace system or another system or structure, are disclosed. A representative system can include a propellant tank with a dome-shaped head; attachment features on the dome-shaped head; and a thrust structure with legs attached to the attachment features. A representative method can include forming shims to be positioned between the legs and the attachment features. The shims can be formed based on digital characterizations of mounting faces on the attachment features within a reference coordinate system. The method can include positioning a drill jig within the reference coordinate system and using the drill jig to make holes in the shims and/or the attachment features for fastening the legs to the attachment features. A drill jig can include plates that are movable relative to each other. At least one of the plates can include a mounting hole pattern.

Rocket thrust structure assembly, and associated systems and methods

An optical target orienting system including a mount defining a pan axis, an optical target positioned on the mount, the optical target being rotatable relative to the mount about a tilt axis, a pan assembly operatively connected to the mount to rotate the mount and, thus, the optical target about the pan axis, and a tilt assembly operatively connected to the optical target to rotate the optical target relative to the mount about the tilt axis.

Optical target orienting system and method

A method including placing first and second measurement devices proximate first and second aircraft doors, respectively, and determining a first position of the second measurement device relative to a second position of the first measurement device. The method includes placing first and second pluralities of reflective devices inside the aircraft proximate the first and second doors, respectively. The method includes measuring first and second distances from the first and second measurement devices to the first and second pluralities of reflective devices, respectively, and measuring second distances from the second measurement device to the second plurality of reflective devices. Based on a determined position of the second measurement device and further based on the first distances and second distances, third distances are determined between each of the first and second pluralities of reflective devices. The third distances provide a measurement baseline for points on a fuselage and wings.

Aircraft enhanced reference system and method

An automated motorized assembly may be utilized to move a laser reflector on inside or outside surfaces, along edges of barrel shape structures. The laser reflector may be used to reflect laser signals back to a laser tracker metrology system locked in on the laser reflector. The laser tracker may follow the laser reflector as it moves along an edge of a barrel shape structure, acquiring circumferential data. The laser reflector may be moved to different positions to enable obtaining different circumferential rows of data. The automated motorized assembly may comprise a movement component that ensures consistent, continued, and/or tight movement along the traversed edge. The movement component may comprise a plurality of wheels and/or rollers, and one or more motors for driving at least some of the wheels and/or rollers. The automated motorized assembly may be controlled by user input, which may be communicated wirelessly.

Circumferential laser crawler

A system and methods for precision marking are presented. A base member is configured to slide over a surface, and a plunger is coupled to the base member and is configured to move in relation to the base member. A location marking device is coupled to the plunger, a magnetic ring is configured to hold a retro-reflector, and a magnetic ring retainer is configured to couple the magnetic ring to the plunger. A spring is coupled to the plunger and is configured to elevate the location marking device away from the surface.

Center marking nest for method of precision locating

The different advantageous embodiments provide a method for alignment of platform features. A number of feature locations for a platform is identified using a platform model. A number of platform instructions for taking measurements at the number of feature locations is identified using the platform model. Instructions are generated having a number of measurement locations for each feature location in the number of feature locations for the platform.

Computer aided feature alignment process

A system and methods for precision marking are disclosed. A spring-loaded mechanical marking tool comprising an optical retro-reflector is operable to interface with a metrology system to expedite determination of a desired feature location. The tool simplifies user operation of metrology targeting devices, and reduces or eliminates process non-conformance, potential surface damage and miss-location.

Growing community of inventors

Black Diamond, WA, United States of America

Barry Theophile Cooke