The Boeing Company

Other

James M Cobb

Patrick B Stone

Alan K Jones

John G Barnes

Brian K Sollenberger

Eric M Reid

Clayton Lynn Munk

Matthew Ray DesJardien

Dan Dresskell Day

Samuel Francis Pedigo

Steven Best

James Albert DeLand

Timothy G Nielsen

Kurtis Shuldberg Willden

Douglas Scott Jones

Brice Aaron Johnson

Steven A Best

Robert C Franklin

Richard Neil Blair

Winfeng Li

Craig Farris Battles

Gary Mark Buckus

John W Palmateer

Paul Frederic Sjoholm

Matthew W Smith

Carlos Crespo

Peter Frederick Trautman

Samra S Sangari

Richard N Blair

Samra Samak Sangari

Donald L Kaiser

Kimberly Jyl Kaiser

Patrick A Lynch

Matthew Ray Desjardien

Paul Fredric Sjoholm

Kimberly J Kaiser

John W Plamateer

James A Deland

A method and apparatus for aligning a number of measurement systems to a reference coordinate system. In one illustrative example, an apparatus may comprise a number of robotic vehicles and a number of monuments associated with the number of robotic vehicles. The number of robotic vehicles may be configured to move into an environment.

Robotic-mounted monument system for metrology systems

A method and apparatus for maintaining a selected configuration for a structure. Metrology data for a support system is received while the support system holds the structure. A determination is made as to whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on the metrology data. The support system is moved to move the structure held by the support system into the selected configuration in response to a determination that the current configuration of the structure is not within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure.

Metrology system for positioning assemblies

A method and apparatus for maintaining a selected configuration for a structure during a manufacturing process for forming a product using the structure. Metrology data for a support system is received. The support system holds the structure during the manufacturing process. A determination is made as to whether a current configuration of the structure is within selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure based on the metrology data. The support system is reconfigured to move the structure into the selected configuration in response to a determination that the current configuration of the structure is not within the selected tolerances of the selected configuration for the structure.

An automated ply layup system uses a robot and an end effector for selecting plies from a kit and placing the plies at predetermined locations on a tool by further employing cameras for ply location detection, a laser scanner for detection and ply placement within a location on the tool, and compact sensors for compacting plies onto the tool.

Automated ply layup system

An anomaly detection and cataloging system is described that includes a handheld probe having a probe tip, a user interface, and a communications interface. The system further includes a system controller and a probe locating device. The probe is operable, via the user interface, for transmitting, via the communications interface, a user selected anomaly type to the system controller, the anomaly type being associated with a manufactured part or airplane on the ground (AOG). The probe locating device is operable to provide to the system controller a location associated with the probe tip, and the system is programmed to associate the user selected anomaly type with the location associated with the probe tip.

Cataloging system for recording manufacture anomaly data related to type, severity, and position with a wireless probe

A system for assembling aircraft is disclosed. An example system for moving components of an airplane into assembly alignment includes a jacking system including assembly jacks for supporting and moving components of the airplane into assembly alignment; a measurement system independent of the jacking system for determining locations of a plurality of features the components of the airplane while the components are supported on the assembly jacks; and a computer system for determining the relative positions of the components in a coordinate system of the airplane and for controlling the movement of the assembly jacks to bring the components into assembly alignment.

System for assembling aircraft

A system automatically moves large scale components of a vehicle such as an airplane, into final assembly alignment. A noncontact measurement system determines the locations of aerodynamically significant features on each of the components. The measured locations of the components are used to control an automated jacking system that includes assembly jacks for individually moving the components into assembly alignment. A system is provided for calculating the cruise configuration of the vehicle 'as-built' and for transferring the cruise configuration into the vehicle where it is recorded in the form of a physical monument.

A method for containing and cleaning up oil or other contaminants from an area of water containing mixture of ice and water is disclosed. A net having at least one folded extension is deployed into an area of water and ice to encircle at least a portion of the contaminant spill. The ends of the net are attached to each other in contaminant resistant way to contain the contaminant in the net. The folded extension is deployed to an unfolded configuration. The net is the then pursed up using the extension to control the contaminant in the net. The contaminant is pumped out of the net as needed to allow the net to continue to be pursed up to a smaller and smaller area.

Ocean oil spill and contaminated sea ice containment, separation and removal system

In non-limiting, illustrative embodiments, methods, systems, and manufacturing facilities are provided for locating components of a structure. Locations of features of components of a structure are simultaneously determined. Relative positions of the components are determined in a coordinate system of the structure.

System and method for locating components of a structure

Methods and systems for large-scale airframe assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes measuring a plurality of discrete point positions at least one of on and adjacent to at least one of a first and a second component, and measuring at least one surface position on the at least one of the first and second components. The measured positions are compared with a desired position information (e.g., a computer aided design model). The comparison may include applying a fitting routine to the measured positions and the desired position information. Next, a transformation matrix for improving the comparison between the measured positions and the desired position information is computed. At least one of the first and second components is then moved according to the transformation matrix. During movement, the plurality of discrete point positions may be monitored and provided to the position control system by a feedback loop.

Methods and systems for large-scale airframe assembly

There is provided a tie-in device for correlating at least two different coordinate systems. The tie-in device comprises an outer surface having a predefined geometric shape, such as a generally spherical surface, located at a first predefined distance from a reference point of the tie-in device, such as the center of the generally spherical surface. The outer surface of the tie-in device is mappable to determine the location of the reference point in a first coordinate system. The tie-in device comprises at least one target located at a second predefined distance from the reference point. The target is locatable in a second coordinate system to determine a location of the reference point in a second coordinate system. The relative locations of the reference point are tied-in, advantageously by processing circuitry, to correlate the first and second coordinate systems.

Tie-in device for the correlation of coordinate systems

An irradiator, for containment and exposure of a radiation source, that is self-contained and portable. The irradiator provides radiation shielding, physical strength and thermal dissipation to allow transport of a radiation source carried therein without further containment or shielding. A radiator frame carrying a radiation source is lowered below the container for exposure to particularly adapt the device for tunnel irradiation of product from a position thereabove. The radiation preferably source is cesium-137 which provides medium energy gamma radiation adapted particularly for radiation processing and sterilizing of food products with minimal additional shielding requirements.

Dry storage irradiator structure

Growing community of inventors

Burien, WA, United States of America

James M Cobb