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:
Jan. 13, 2026
Filed:
Feb. 29, 2024
Rtx Corporation, Farmington, CT (US);
Jeremiah Lee, Coventry, CT (US);
Sheridon Haye, College Station, TX (US);
RTX Corporation, Farmington, CT (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods relate to autonomous devices configured to map surface topologies of airfoils of gas turbine engines. The autonomous device moves across the airfoil while remaining coupled thereto while sensing the surface topology of the airfoil using an optical gel sensor via an array of airfoil contacting members. The optical gel sensor includes an optical gel, having nominally planar opposite surfaces defining a nominal gel thickness extending over an image area. A lighting element illuminates the optical gel from an end of the flexible optical gel. A plurality of airfoil contacting members extend between the flexible optical gel and the airfoil, thereby distorting the flexible optical gel in response to changes in the surface topology of the airfoil. A two-dimensional imager images the flexible optical gel over the image area, thereby creating a two-dimensional image that is indicative of the surface topology.