General Electric Company

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Boris Yamrom

Louis John Hoebel

Robert J Szczerba

Abha Moitra

Robert Marcel Mattheyses

Virginia Ann DiDomizio

William Thomas Hatfield

Nelson R Corby, Jr

James Vradenburg Miller

Steven Charles Miller

William E Lorensen

Christopher Allen Nafis

Ricardo Scott Avila

Abdalmajeid Musa Alyassin

Larry Y Mo

Joseph Edward Piel, Jr

Todd Michael Tillman

Jeanette Marie Bruno

Steven Eric Linthicum

Brian Peter Geiser

Christopher Richard Volpe

Vaishali Vilas Kamat

Russell Scott Blue

Kenneth M Martin

Jonathan Earl Davis

Tomek Strzalkowski

Craig Arthur Silber

Abdalmajeid M Alyassin

A method routes a predefined number of entities () through a predetermined area for scanning the content of the predetermined area. The method comprises the steps of: partitioning the predetermined area into a first set of cells (); grouping the first set of cells () into a number of corridors () equal to the number of entities (); determining a starting cell for each entity () in each corridor (); initiating a scan of cells of each of the corridors () from the starting cell of each of the entities () and determining the content of each of the scanned cells; and determining a total cost for each entity () to travel to each of the scanned cells scanned by each entity () and performing a scan from each of the scanned cells by each entity ().

Real-time team coordination system for reconnaissance and surveillance missions

A method for generating an automated exploded view of an assembly of parts is presented. The method includes determining at least one sequence of viable directions of motion of at least one moving part in the assembly of parts. Computer-readable medium and systems that afford functionality of the type defined by this method are also contemplated in conjunction with the present technique.

Method and system for generating automated exploded views

A method routes an entity () through a predetermined area for scanning the content of the predetermined area. The method comprises the steps of: partitioning the predetermined area into cells (); determining a starting cell for the entity (); initiating a scan of a number of the cells from the starting cell and determining the content of each of the number of cells; and determining a total cost for the entity () to travel to each of the scanned cells and to perform a scan from each of the scanned cells.

Real-time route and sensor planning system with variable mission objectives

A system and computer implemented method for enabling field service of machines and training of field service personnel. The method comprises the steps of generating at least one validated sequence of instructions for at least one maintenance task and delivering the at least one validated sequence for use in performing the at least one maintenance task.

Method and system for automated maintenance and training instruction generation and validation

A method routes an entity ( ) through a predetermined area for scanning the content of the predetermined area. The method includes the steps of: partitioning the predetermined area into cells ( ); determining a starting cell for the entity ( ); initiating a scan of a number of the cells from the starting cell and determining the content of each of the number of cells; and determining a total cost for the entity ( ) to travel to each of the scanned cells and to perform a scan from each of the scanned cells.

A method routes a plurality of entities ( ) through a predetermined area. The method includes the steps of: providing a plan; providing a deterministic method for computing the plan for the plurality of entities ( ), the plan including a plurality of routes and sets of scan points for each of the entities ( ); and performing the method by each of the plurality of entities ( ) independently from the other of the plurality of entities ( ).

Architecture for real-time maintenance of distributed mission plans

A method analyzes a plan for scanning the content of a predetermined area. The method includes the steps of: providing a plan for at least one entity ( ), the plan including a route and a set of scan points; and assigning an associated score for the plan in order to compare the plan to other plans, the score indicating the quality of the plan.

Architecture for automatic evaluation of team reconnaissance and surveillance plans

The present invention provides a system and method for performing three-dimensional surface measurements of a path length along a surface. The method for determining the path length along the surface of a three-dimensional object includes the step of first selecting a first and second point on the three-dimensional surface. A plane is then defined which contains both the first and second points. A determination is then made to find the shortest path curve between the first point and second point which is defined by the intersection of the three-dimensional object with the plane. This path length is recorded for future comparison. A series of subsequent planes is defined that contains the first and second point, wherein these planes are rotated at an angle to each other. A determination is then made for the shortest path length associated with each subsequent plane. The overall shortest path length is the minimum of these recorded path lengths.

Method and apparatus for determining an unsupervised planar geodesic path

A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program is used for finding the shortest path between two points on a polygonal surface. The storage medium includes instructions for causing a computer to implement a method for finding the shortest path. Given a first point and a second point on the polygonal surface, a polyline lying on the surface and passing through the two points is defined. The polyline on a polygonal mesh is analyzed to determine points lying on the polyline and on edges of the mesh. The polygonal faces of the mesh are assumed, without any loss of generality, to be triangles. If the start and end points of the polyline are not on the edges of the mesh, the faces of the polygonal surface on which the start and end points of the polyline lie are triangulated so that the start and end points become vertices of the polygonal mesh. The polyline is then modified such that it will pass through the first and second points of the polyline, creating a new polyline of a shorter length. The analysis, triangulation and modification process are repeated iteratively until a shortest possible polyline is found between the first and second points.

Iterative determination of the shortest path between two points on a polygonal surface

The axis of rotational transducer array scans, because of imperfect transducer array assembly, may have two orthogonal offsets relative to the geometric center of the transducer array. Without knowledge of these offsets, it is not possible to convert rotational transducer scan data into a rectilinear (Euclidean) coordinate system, as is necessary for three-dimensional processing. Using spatial coherency between appropriate scan lines in different rotational transducer scans, the horizontal and vertical rotational offsets are calculated. These offsets are then utilized in converting the data to a rectilinear coordinate system for three-dimensional processing.

Method and apparatus for calibrating rotational offsets in ultrasound transducer scans

A method for modeling an object with a polygonal mesh includes obtaining a closed-surface polygonal mesh and positioning the closed-surface polygonal mesh relative to the object. A ray is projected through a point-of-interest on said closed-surface polygonal mesh. The existence of an intersection point between said ray and a surface of the object is determined and the location of the point-of-interest is adjusted in response to the existence and location of the intersection point. The projecting is repeated for a plurality of points in the closed-surface polygonal mesh in order to approximate the object.

Method of modeling a closed surface geometry

A method and apparatus for calculating the inter-slice spacing in a data volume and registering the slices of that volume using SAD calculations. The resulting transformed data volume is then three-dimensionally reconstructed using a projection technique. If during scanning the probe is translated in the Z direction and at the same time is shifted in the X and/or Y direction, the SAD value will be artificially high. By translating two adjacent images with respect to each other in the X direction and then in the Y direction, and searching for the minimum SAD value, the amount of shift in the X and/or Y direction can be determined and that shift can then be removed. Also by rotating two slices with respect to each other and looking for a minimum SAD value, rotational motion of the probe during scanning can be removed.

Method and appartus for calculating distance between ultrasound images

Calibrated spatial reference devices (SRDs) of known dimensions having targets at known relative locations are attached to a large structure to be measured. A design device employs a digital camera to acquire digital images of `islands` of the structure including the SRDs and employs photogrammetry techniques to determine relative locations of `islands` within a large structure. A highly accurate coordinate measurement device provides absolute 3D measured locations of the targets used to convert the relative photogrammetry locations into absolute 3D locations. A monitor displays the digital images, measured 3D locations, photogrammetry locations in a superimposed manner to a user and a user interface allows the user to select objects to be measured. Image detection techniques are used to identify objects selected by a user and dimensions, and distances between selected objects are automatically calculated. A remote link allows remote users to interact with the device to view, select structures and measure dimensions. The device is also capable of storing any type of imagery, notes, voice annotations, and also capable of retrieving archived information. This allows a time-lapse playback of objects indicating wear or corrosion.

Portable measurement system using image and point measurement devices

The present invention is a method for visualizing a two dimensional field of orientation data on a surface which may be (flat or curved). A unit polyhedron is constructed which approximates a unit sphere centered at a point on the surface corresponding to the orientation vector. Colors are assigned to facets of the polyhedron such that adjacent facets have similar colors. Orientation vectors are projected onto facets of the polyhedron, and the surface point which is associated with the orientation vector is color coded with the color of the intersected facet. The method can be used in geology, metallurgy, stereology, and any other domain where a large set of orientation data is collected.

Method of color coding orientation information

A method for visualizing vector fields uses texture mapping for the vectors to create an animated vector field. Vectors are textured with one dimensional texture maps composed of alternating visible and invisible segments. Successively applied texture maps differ from each other in order to create a moving line effect on the vectors being visualized. A fading effect is further provided by varying the intensity of the visible segments.

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Bronx, NY, United States of America

Boris Yamrom