The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 2019
Filed:
Nov. 06, 2015
Advanced automated process for the wing-to-body join of an aircraft with predictive surface scanning
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Christina Michelle Vasquez, Mukilteo, WA (US);
Dario I. Valenzuela, Mukilteo, WA (US);
Ronald J. Collins, Brier, WA (US);
Aksel Bode, Bellevue, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
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.