Improved Reliability and Multi-modal Capability of NDI for Cracks and Corrosion(1001-306)

Triton Systems Inc. (TSI), in partnership with BAE Systems (BAES), and in conjunction with two leading inspection technology companies, proposes to integrate BAES crawler robot and laser tracker system with non-destructive inspection (NDI) instruments to enable the efficient inspection of large-area aircraft components.   The proposed TSI solution will utilize crawler robot positional coordinate data to document the presence of defects in a CAD format and relate the inspection data to locations on surface models of the aircraft and/or its components.  While the crawler robot is traversing the surface it will simultaneously utilize various metrology and NDI devices to inspect the airframe.  Because the crawler robot position on the surface is known at all times, all defects which are detected can be accurately mapped to the surface model.  The combined solution will create a system that allows the cost-effective, reliable detection and digital documentation of surface and sub-surface defects and features.  The primary application for this automated inspection system will be the detection and documentation of surface and sub-surface defects on large area components of the C-130 fleet which is maintained at Robins AFB.  The crawler robot will scan the fuselage and upper and lower wing surfaces. BENEFIT: Greatly reduces inspection cycle times and direct labor costs for aircraft inspection operations.   Potentially reduces need for expensive strip and re-paint operations and to perform disassembly to detect subsurface defects. Automation of the inspection process will improve the reliability and repeatability of inspection operations. Improves integrity of large-area component assessment and repair decisions by providing more reliable and consistent metrology and inspection data simultaneously collected by multiple NDE devices on an adaptable automated robotic platform; inspection data can be more efficiently and accurately archived and tracked over the history of an aircraft and from aircraft to aircraft within a fleet (All of the above are important to both military and commercial aviation applications.)