The Boeing Company

Christina Michelle Vasquez

Dario I Valenzuela

Ronald J Collins

Aksel Bode

Darrell Darwin Jones

Theodore Martin Boyl-Davis

Stephan Joel Favilla

Disclosed aircraft wing-to-body join methods include measuring a 3D surface contour of each wing root interface surface of a wing root to form a complete wing root 3D surface profile; measuring a 3D surface contour of each wing stub interface surface of a wing stub to form a complete wing stub 3D surface profile; calculating a virtual fit between the aircraft wing and the aircraft body assembly that defines one or more gaps between the wing root interface surface and the wing stub interface surface; and aligning the aircraft wing to the aircraft body assembly to achieve a real fit consistent with the virtual fit.

Advanced automated process for the wing-to-body join of an aircraft with predictive surface scanning

Disclosed aircraft wing-to-body join methods include (a) applying targets to a wing and a body assembly at the respective wing root and wing stub, (b) determining the 3D locations of the targets by photogrammetry, (c) generating 3D surface profiles for the interface surfaces of the wing root and wing stub by combining scans of the interface surfaces, (d) calculating a virtual fit between the wing and the body assembly that defines one or more gaps between the generated 3D surface profiles of the wing root and wing stub, (e) positioning at least three position sensors within the wing root and/or the wing stub, and (f) aligning the wing to the body assembly to achieve a real fit consistent with the calculated virtual fit using feedback from the position sensors. Methods of determining the target locations and/or the 3D surface profiles may utilize a mobile scanning platform.

Systems and methods for robotic measurement of parts are provided. One system includes one or more omni-directional ground vehicles configured to move within a facility defined work zone to a setup calibration station and an engineering defined work space, wherein the engineering defined work space includes a part to be measured. The system also includes a multi-axis robot removably coupled to each of the omni-direction ground vehicles and configured to move a laser scanner, wherein the laser scanner of each of the multi-axis robots is configured to move in at least two linear directions and one rotational direction. The system further includes a processor configured to automatically generate a surface ready output file from measurement data received from the laser scanners, wherein the surface ready output file is configured to command a machine to manufacture a mating component to the part.

Systems and methods for robotic measurement of parts

Methods comprise (a) sequentially transferring, from a part supply structure to a part staging structure, a first predetermined selection of parts; (b) sequentially transferring, from the part staging structure to a first manufacturing kit holder, the first predetermined selection of parts to define a first kitted holder; (c) concurrently with (b), sequentially transferring, from the part supply structure to the part staging structure, a second predetermined selection of parts; and (d) subsequent to (b), sequentially transferring, from the part staging structure to a second manufacturing kit holder, the second predetermined selection of parts to define a second kitted holder. Systems comprise a part supply structure; a part staging structure; a first robotic transfer device; a plurality of manufacturing kit holders; a second robotic transfer device; and a holder positioning structure.

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Mukilteo, WA, United States of America

Christina Michelle Vasquez