Articulated robot for laser ultrasonic inspection

Abstract

An ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) system operable to inspect target materials is provided. This ultrasonic NDE system includes an articulated robot, an ultrasound inspection head, a processing module, and a control module. The ultrasound inspection head couples to or mounts on the articulated robot. The ultrasound inspection head is operable to deliver a generation laser beam, a detection laser beam, and collect phase modulated light scattered by the target materials. The processing module processes the phase modulated light and produces information about the internal structure ofthe target materials. The control module directs the articulated robot to position the ultrasound inspection head according to a predetermined scan plan.

Description

[0001] related application [0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 871,680, filed December 22, 2006, by Thomas E. Drake, entitled "ARTICULATED ROBOT FOR LASER ULTRASONIC INSPECTION," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. included here. [0003] US Provisional Application No. 60 / 091,240, filed June 30, 1998, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. [0004] This application incorporates by reference, for all purposes, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 091,229, filed June 30, 1998, by Thomas E. Drake, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FORDETECTING ULTRASONIC SURFACE DISPLACEMENTS USING POST-COLLECTION OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION" here. [0005] For all purposes, this application refers in its entirety to Thomas E. Drake's U.S. patent application entitled "REMOTE LASER BEAM DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE WITH A ROBOTIC POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR ULTRASONIC TESTING PURPOSES" filed ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Therefore these architectures are not suitable for use in any type of in-service, remote or field-deployed portable laser ultrasonic flaw detection system

Additionally, because they are so large and heavy, these architectures require robust robotic grippers and complex beam delivery systems, all of which add significantly to the initial total cost of a laser ultrasonic flaw detection system even when they are deployed in a factory setting and maintenance costs to keep the flaw detection system running in a production environment

These large complex structures are suitable for external component inspection and cannot inspect all aspects of the assembled structure

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