Augmented Reality Borescope Inspection With Real-Time Engine Overlays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional borescope inspections of turbomachinery engines lack real-time, interactive features that enhance operator understanding and decision-making, confining operators to a one-way observational process.
Innovation Solution
An augmented reality inspection system that uses a camera system to capture images, a controller to determine the camera's location and generate graphic images based on the captured images, and a display to superimpose these graphics onto real-time images, providing interactive guidance and inspection aids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional borescope inspection methods are used, then the inspection process is simple and straightforward, but the operator lacks real-time interactive features and dynamic engagement, resulting in reduced understanding and decision-making capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the borescope camera system with an augmented reality display system, combining real-time image capture with computer-generated graphic overlays. This integration allows operators to simultaneously view live inspection footage and interactive graphical representations of component features, thereby enhancing operator interaction capability while maintaining a unified inspection platform
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that receives images from the borescope camera, processes them through computer vision algorithms, and generates augmented reality graphics. This intermediary layer translates raw visual data into interactive graphical representations, enabling enhanced operator engagement without requiring direct modification of the basic borescope functionality
2Loss of information
If standard observational borescope inspection is used, then the equipment setup is simple, but the operator is hindered by the absence of real-time interactive features that could enhance understanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a graphical overlay dimension to the traditional two-dimensional borescope image. By superimposing computer-generated graphics that represent component features, tolerances, and inspection criteria onto the live video feed, the system provides operators with multiple layers of information simultaneously, reducing information loss without requiring physical access to additional equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously processes live images, compares them against reference data, and dynamically generates graphical feedback overlays. This real-time feedback loop provides operators with immediate visual information about component conditions, feature locations, and inspection status, enhancing understanding while maintaining continuous monitoring
3Productivity
If conventional one-way observational inspection is used, then the inspection process is straightforward, but real-time interactive features are absent, reducing decision-making capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing reference component data and generating expected graphical representations before the actual inspection occurs. During inspection, the system compares live images against these pre-prepared references and rapidly generates appropriate graphical overlays, thereby enhancing inspection efficiency without requiring complex real-time computations for every decision
Data Source
AI summary
An augmented reality inspection system for inspecting features within a component includes a camera system that is configured to capture images of a component and a controller that is configured to receive images from the camera system. The controller is further programmed to utilize the received images to determine a location of the camera system and the captured images on the component, and utilize the determined location to generate graphic images relating to features of the component at the determined location. The system further includes a display that is configured to generate a real-time display of the component based in the captured images. The controller is further configured to superimpose the graphic images relating to features of the component onto the real-time display of the component.