The Boeing Company

John Willard Dorsey-Palmateer

Branko Sarh

Harinder Singh Oberoi

Kevin Marion Barrick

Yuanxin Charles Hu

Melissa Ann Findlay

Jorge Alberto Arriaga

Gregory Gudzinski

Michael Richard Kennedy

Brenda C Gross

Jeffrey Lawrence Miller

Joseph Daniel Brennan

Patrick Lee Anderson

Solomon Tadesse Atsebha

Mike Majid Moodi

Melissa McQueen

Timothy G Nielsen

Thomas K Williams

David E Baukol

A method and apparatus for positioning an end effector relative to a fuselage assembly. The end effector is positioned relative to an expected reference location for a reference point on the fuselage assembly using data from a first metrology system. After positioning the end effector relative to the expected reference location, an actual reference location for the reference point on the fuselage assembly is identified using data from a second metrology system. The end effector is positioned at an operation location based on the actual reference location identified.

Metrology-based system for operating a flexible manufacturing system

Systems and methods for using metrology to assist a user at a workstation to form a part into a desired contour include scanning the part to obtain scanned data indicative of an actual contour of the part. Distance errors are determined based on a comparison of the scanned data to a computer model of the desired contour. A contour map of deviation is determined based on the distance errors, with the contour map of deviation indicating magnitudes of the distance errors for at least a selected set of points on the actual contour of the part. Visible indicium is projected onto the part that represents the contour map of deviation, thereby assisting the user of the workstation to identify where further modification of the actual contour is needed.

Metrology Assisted Part Forming System and Method

A system is provided including a first elongated object proximate a first surface on a first side of a structure and a second elongated object proximate a second surface on a second side of the structure, the second surface and the second side opposite the structure relative to the first surface and the first side, the first object aligned with the second object at a first point on the first surface. The system also includes a first plurality of corner cubes affixed to the first object at first known distances from each other and from the first point, wherein the first object abuts the first surface at the first point. The system also includes a second plurality of corner cubes affixed to the second object at second known distances from each other and from the first point, wherein the second object abuts second surface at second point opposite first point.

Dual hidden point bars

A method and apparatus for positioning an end effector relative to a fuselage assembly. A configuration of the fuselage assembly may be determined. The end effector may be positioned relative to the fuselage assembly based on the configuration determined. A set of actual reference locations may be identified for a set of reference points on the fuselage assembly. The end effector may be positioned at an operation location based on the set of actual reference locations identified.

Systems and methods of inspecting a manufactured part include creating a computer model of the part with a desired model contour having a model feature at a desired location. The manufactured part is scanned to obtain scanned data indicative of a manufactured surface formed in a manufactured contour and having a manufactured feature at an actual location on the manufactured surface. The computer model is modified using modeled reaction forces so that the model contour matches the manufactured surface. A determination whether the manufactured part is acceptable is based on a comparison of the actual location of the manufactured feature with and the desired location of the model feature with the model surface in the modified model contour. Additionally or alternatively, the reaction forces are compared with a reaction force threshold to determine whether the manufactured part requires reworking.

Part inspection system and method

A method and apparatus for bending an elongate member. A plastic force may be applied to the elongate member. The plastic force may be configured to cause the elongate member to bend with a plastic deformation. The plastic force may be reduced to an elastic force that is applied to the elongate member after the plastic force causes the elongate member to bend with the plastic deformation.

Dynamic stringer forming system

A method for determining the positional laydown accuracy of an automated lamination machine during fabrication of a multiple layered part is described. The method includes measuring a position of a placement head of the lamination machine in a coordinate system, determining a location of a ply edge with respect to the placement head, transforming the location of the ply edge into the coordinate system, based on the measured head position, transforming the location of the ply edge from the coordinate system into a second coordinate system that is associated with the part being fabricated, and comparing actual ply edge location in the second coordinate system to an expected ply edge location defined in the second coordinate system, the second coordinate system associated with the part being fabricated, to determine the laydown accuracy of the machine.

Methods and systems for automated ply boundary and orientation inspection

A projector system having a process utilizing three-dimensional data, thereby allowing the system to account for rotational and translational differences between the projector and the object upon which the laser light is directed. Reference targets located on the object are in a known relationship to the projected three dimensional data. The reference targets are retro-reflective, such that light steered by the projector, when impinging on the reference targets, will return to the projector for detection and determination of the relative translation and orientation between projector and object. The three-dimensional data is then converted to a format suitable for projection using said translation and orientation information.

Method for controlling projection of optical layup template utilizing

A projection system having a process utilizing three-dimensional data, thereby allowing the system to account for rotational and translational differences between the projector and the object upon which the laser light is directed. Reference sensors located on the object are in a known relationship to the three-dimensional data set to be projected, i.e., the reference sensors utilize the same coordinate system as the three-dimensional data set.

Apparatus for controlling projection of optical layup template

A projection system having a process utilizing three-dimensional data, thereby allowing the system to account for rotational and translational differences between the projector and the object upon which the laser light is directed. Reference sensors located on the object are in a known relationship to the three-dimensional data set to be projected, i.e., the reference sensors utilize the same coordinate system as the three-dimensional set.

Method for controlling projection of optical layup template

A method for determining proper operation of a multi-section photo-sensitive detector (10) includes measuring (102) the cathode-anode dark resistance of each section and rejecting the detector (104, 108) if any section measures less than a predetermined value or if the ratio of the dark resistance of any section to the section having the highest dark resistance (106) exceeds a specified level. Each detector is also subjected to anode-to-anode or cathode-to-cathode dark resistance testing for both adjacent (110) and non-adjacent (124) sections, with testing based on comparisons between section pair readings and the sum of the cathode-anode dark resistances of each section in the tested pair (114, 128).

Growing community of inventors

Gig Harbor, WA, United States of America

John Willard Dorsey-Palmateer