The Boeing Company

Sam Orr

Roger W Engelbart

Reed Hannebaum

Tim Pollock

Eric Rector

Jeff Putnam

A system and method of inspecting material laid by a material placement machine. Light is directed onto the material in a direction essentially normal to the material to illuminate a section of the material. Laser energy is projected onto the section at an angle predetermined to reveal inconsistencies in the section. This system provides improved illumination for material widths exceeding six inches and is scalable for inspecting various material widths.

Apparatus and methods for inspecting a composite structure for inconsistencies

A course material that is applied to a substrate during fabrication of a composite item is inspected by a system that includes a vision assembly. The vision assembly includes an area light, a line generator, a sensor, and an image processor. The area light illuminates an area of the course material. The line generator generates a line of illumination across the area. The sensor captures an image of the area. The image processor analyzes the image. The image processor is configured to identify debris on the course material in response to the area light being activated and the image processor is configured to identify placement aberrations in response to the line generator being activated.

Growing community of inventors

Barnhart, MO, United States of America

Sam Orr