Aircraft Damage Locator

Military aircraft often receive damage from a variety of causes. This damage is detected through visual inspection or through the aid of handheld nondestructive inspection devices. Regardless of the inspection method used, however, determining the damage’s exact location and spatial orientation is critical. Typically, hand measurements are taken relative to structural features such as fasteners, doors, or panels and are then manually transferred to paper. This practice is often inaccurate, labor- and cost-intensive, and incompatible with other data collection formats. In contrast, the SURVICE Engineering Company has developed proven techniques to improve the process. We are intimately familiar with precision damage measurement since our core business areas—aircraft survivability analysis and aircraft battle damage and repair (ABDR)—often require detailed post-test inspection and analysis of damage and its end effects. And we have developed procedures and software to use the Metris X-Station and iGPS measurement systems to accurately and quickly collect data to support our survivability analyses. In Phase I of SBIR AF06-102, we enhanced these capabilities and developed a technology demonstration to show the feasibility of accurately locating and measuring aircraft damage. The Phase I success provides a sound basis and justification for proceeding to Phase II.