Channel Crawler With Stabilized Camera Deployment for Wing Tank Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual inspection of aircraft wing tanks is ergonomically challenging and time-consuming, often requiring inspectors to crawl through confined spaces, which can impact production rates and maintenance efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A channel crawler system with a carriage, stabilizing mechanism, and deployment mechanism, allowing for robotic inspection by moving through channels defined by stringers, and deploying operational devices like cameras to inspect confined spaces without human operators entering them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual inspection by human operator is used, then inspection can be performed, but ergonomic challenges and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical inspection system with an automated robotic crawler system. The robotic crawler includes a carriage that moves along stringer channels, a stabilizing mechanism with engagement members that contact channel surfaces, and a deployment mechanism that extends inspection devices. This substitution eliminates the need for human operators to manually crawl through confined spaces, directly addressing both ergonomic challenges and time consumption by automating the inspection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a robotic crawler as an intermediary between the inspector and the confined space. The crawler system includes a carriage that travels through the stringer channel, a stabilizing mechanism with engagement members that interact with the channel surfaces, and a deployment mechanism that extends inspection devices. This intermediary allows inspection to be performed remotely without human operators entering the confined space, thereby improving ergonomics and reducing inspection time.
2Ease of operation
If human operator enters confined space, then inspection can be performed, but productivity decreases due to time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual human inspection with an automated robotic crawler system that moves through stringer channels and performs inspections. The robotic crawler includes a carriage that travels along the channel, a stabilizing mechanism with engagement members that contact channel surfaces, and a deployment mechanism that extends inspection devices. This automation eliminates the time-consuming manual crawling process, thereby improving productivity and production rates while maintaining access to confined spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic robotic crawler system that can move along stringer channels and position itself at various locations within the confined space. The carriage can travel along the channel, the stabilizing mechanism can engage with channel surfaces to maintain position, and the deployment mechanism can extend inspection devices to different locations. This dynamic capability allows rapid access to different inspection points without requiring human operators to manually navigate and position themselves, thereby improving productivity.
3Productivity
If robotic crawler is deployed, then inspection efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the robotic crawler into distinct functional segments: a carriage that moves along the stringer channel, a stabilizing mechanism with engagement members that contact channel surfaces, and a deployment mechanism that extends inspection devices. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall system more manageable and easier to implement while maintaining high inspection efficiency. The modular design reduces the complexity burden by breaking down the system into well-defined, purpose-specific subsystems.
4Stability of the object's composition
If stabilizing mechanism engages channel surface, then carriage stability improves, but movement freedom is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic stabilizing mechanism where engagement members can selectively contact the channel surface to provide stability when needed, and retract or reposition to allow movement when required. The engagement members are designed to engage with the channel surface in a controlled manner, providing stability during inspection operations while allowing the carriage to move along the channel when necessary. This dynamic capability balances stability and movement freedom, enabling the system to adapt to different operational requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A channel crawler has a carriage, a stabilizing mechanism, and a deployment mechanism. The carriage has wheels configured to engage surfaces that define a channel through which the carriage is configured to move. The stabilizing mechanism is configured to extend from the carriage and engage a non-horizontal surface of the channel in a manner restricting unintended movement of the carriage in one or more directions. The deployment mechanism is configured to fit within the carriage when retracted, and selectively deploy an operational device from a stowed position within the carriage to a deployed position outside the channel for performing an operation in relation to at least one of structure and hardware proximate the channel.