The Boeing Company

Tobias Weber

Andreas Bartl

Kwok Tung Chan

Anthony Wayne Baker

Matthew H Mellin

José Antonio Blanco Del Álamo

Jose A Blanco

A system and a method include a control unit configured to receive one or more force signals from one or more force sensors coupled to one or both of a tool or an end effector. The one or more force signals are indicative of one or more forces exerted in relation to the tool or the end effector as the tool operates on a first component and a second component. The control unit is further configured to detect a difference in the one or more forces as an operative portion of the tool passes through a gap between the first component and the second component. The control unit is further configured to determine a distance of the gap based on the difference in the one or more forces.

Systems and methods for evaluating a gap between structural components

A printing system is provided comprising a print head including a plurality of ink nozzles; an actuator configured to move the print head relative to a substrate; a print head position sensing system configured to detect an actual position of the print head relative to the substrate; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive the actual position of the print head detected by the print head position sensing system corresponding to a target print head position; determine a positional offset between the actual position and the target print head position; generate a nozzle firing pattern based on the positional offset; and control the print head to print the nozzle firing pattern at the target print head position using the plurality of ink nozzles.

Printing system for generating nozzle firing patterns based on positional offsets

A controller for a tool drive that collects force data and displacement data from the tool drive. The controller generates a stiffness model representing a workpiece using the force data and the displacement data. The controller further collects a force signal from the tool drive. The controller determines deflection of the workpiece using the force signal and stiffness model. The controller determines a resonant frequency of the workpiece using the stiffness model. The controller modifies an oscillation frequency and/or a rotational frequency of a spindle of the tool drive based on the resonant frequency. The controller also determines a location of a tip of the tool drive using the force signal.

Controller for a tool drive and methods for using a tool drive

A vibration assisted drilling system is presented. The vibration assisted drilling system comprises a drill feed motion system having a drill feed axis, an oscillation motion system having an oscillation axis, a drill spindle having a drill bit, and a mounting system configured to connect the drill spindle to the oscillation motion system. The drill feed axis is substantially parallel to and offset from the oscillation axis.

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Munich, Germany

Tobias Weber