3D Corrosion Mapping System for Complex Curved Surfaces

SBIR Topic N092-093 clearly describes the roadblocks that must be overcome in order to provide 3D surface mapping of corrosion on complex curved surfaces. Barron Associates and Southwest Research Institute propose innovations in sensing, control, and signal processing that will serve as the foundation for a new 3D corrosion mapping system (3DCMS). The cornerstone of the 3DCMS is the integrated optical module (IOM). The IOM is a new high-resolution sensor architecture featuring an extremely compact head unit suitable for inspection of small diameter interior cylinders and exterior surfaces with a variety of fillets and transition radii. Accompanying designs of the intelligent feedback control system and 3D image registration techniques are of nearly equal importance and also require significant innovation. The actuation system will be based on commercially available robotic manipulator technology in order facilitate prototype demonstration. In order to fully satisfy the requirements of mapping an unknown surface of complex geometry without models of the nominal shape while minimizing operator interventions, an adaptive-autonomous 3D path planning algorithm will be integrated in the design. The Phase I effort will focus on design of the IOM and prediction of the feasible performance of the feedback control system and image registration algorithm.