Automated Identification and Tracking of Defects in Outer Mold Line

Visual inspection of aircraft outer mold line for coating and structural damage is time-consuming and prone to human error. Creare proposes to develop a laser scanning system designed specifically for surveying the outer mold line. Creare’s scanners will use a novel illumination pattern to enable the entire aircraft to be scanned quickly while providing highly accurate dimensions and locations of defects. Automated algorithms will identify and report locations of defects and damage relative to the aircraft coordinate frame. Our system will provide significant gains in efficiency and sensitivity. The Phase I effort will focus on defining specifications, demonstrating large area scanning and automatic detection of defects, and quantifying the accuracy of reported defect dimensions and location. During Phase II, we plan to develop a fully functional system suitable for evaluation by the Air Force.