CENTERLINE IMAGING SYSTEM FOR END EFFECTOR TOOLS

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP A TRUE CENTERLINE IMAGING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH END EFFECTOR TOOLS. THE NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF IMAGING SYSTEM WAS IDENTIFIED DURING THE COURSE OF A PREVIOUS STUDY TO DEVELOP INFLATABLE END EFFECTORS FOR HANDLING DELICATE COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS. ONE OF THE INFLATABLE END EFFECTOR TOOLS DEVELOPED SHOWS PROMISE FOR THE ADDITION OF A CENTERLINE IMAGING SYSTEM WITH MINIMUM REDESIGN OF THE END EFFECTOR TOOL. THIS PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL DESIGN A CENTERLINE IMAGING SYSTEM FOR THAT END EFFECTOR TOOL, FABRICATE A PROTOTYPE OF THE END EFFECTOR TOOL WITH THE CENTERLINE IMAGING SYSTEM, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE TESTING OF THE SYSTEMAT NASA-MSFC. AS THE EXISTING END EFFECTOR TOOL HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE P-FMA SYSTEM AT NASA-MSFC, IT IS PROPOSED THAT TESTING BE PERFORMED AT THAT FACILITY TO MINIMIZE COST OF THE PROJECT.