Computer Assisted Hybrid EC Technology for Rapid NDI

The United States Air Force has over 3000 active combat aircraft in operation. Maintenance of these aircraft is an integral part in keeping the fleet operational. Defects greatly impact the stability and integrity of the aircraft and can directly affect performance. Eddy current testing (ECT) is one of the NDI technologies that can be used for defect detection. The present method of inspection of aircraft requires redundant scans and intensive human interaction. A faster and more efficient way to perform NDI is necessary to decrease the cost of maintenance and the downtime of each aircraft, while also increasing autonomy during the process. RMD will address this by developing a Computer Assisted Maintenance system that will employ a hybrid ECT-based scanning technology. This system will have higher sensitivity than traditional ECT methods, and scan multiple frequencies simultaneously. This hybrid technology will greatly reduce the inspection time. The Computer Assisted Maintenance system will also reduce total inspection time by automating several processes, including defect detection, analysis, and report generation. RMD will work with KBRwyle Aerospace to develop these new hybrid sensors and scanning methodology for rapid non-destructive inspection of aircraft.