Mobile Robotic Inspection System for Automated Component Evaluation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current manufacturing processes require significant operator involvement and are time-consuming due to the need for manual or partially automated inspection methods, which hinder efficient non-destructive inspection of components in a manufacturing environment.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating an inspection program using a three-dimensional model of a component and selecting appropriate inspection modes, determining optimized motion sequences for a mobile robotic inspection system to evaluate predefined points with sensors, and automatically updating the system's operating parameters for efficient data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection or partially automated inspection methods are used, then operator involvement ensures inspection quality, but inspection time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic inspection system performs self-programming by automatically generating inspection programs from 3D component models without requiring operator programming. The system autonomously determines inspection parameters, motion sequences, and sensor configurations, enabling self-service operation that eliminates manual programming time while maintaining inspection quality through automated precision control
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing 3D component models to automatically generate inspection programs before actual inspection begins. Motion sequences and sensor parameters are pre-calculated based on the digital model, allowing the robotic system to execute inspections immediately without on-site programming, thus reducing inspection time while ensuring quality through pre-validated inspection paths
2Ease of operation
If partially automated inspection systems are used, then some automation reduces manual labor, but significant operator programming is still required increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical programming process with an automated information processing approach. Instead of operators manually programming robotic movements and sensor configurations, the system automatically generates inspection programs by processing 3D component model data, substituting human programming effort with automated computational generation of motion sequences and inspection parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the component through 3D modeling and uses this digital representation to generate inspection programs. The virtual model serves as a blueprint that automatically translates into robotic motion sequences and sensor parameters, eliminating the need for operators to program each movement while maintaining inspection accuracy through faithful reproduction of component geometry in the digital domain
3Productivity
If current automated inspection systems are used, then automation reduces manual labor, but systems must be moved to inspection stations reducing flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving components to fixed inspection stations, the system inverts the approach by bringing the robotic inspection system to the components. The mobile robotic platform can navigate to components located anywhere in the manufacturing environment, maintaining automated inspection efficiency while providing the flexibility to inspect components in their existing locations without requiring component movement or fixed inspection station infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
A method for mobile robotic based inspection includes delivery of inspection requirements identifying a part and one or more inspection mode types. A three-dimensional model of the part and one or more physical attributes or specifications of the aeronautical part are received. A plurality of different motion sequences for the robot inspection system are determined to evaluate a plurality of predefined points on the component using one or more sensors for the one or more inspection types. Data acquisition parameters are determined for inspection sequence to allow for collection of inspection data for one or more inspection modes. A motion sequence from the plurality of different motion sequences is selected based on one or more parameters. An optimized inspection program configured to update operating parameters of the robot inspection system to perform the selected motion sequence and capture data using the one or more sensors is generated.