Stereo Camera Pair Deformation Gauge for Airframe Strain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft maintenance downtime due to strain sensor limitations in detecting deformation across airframe members, which can lead to costly and disruptive delays, especially in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) where weight constraints restrict the use of heavily engineered camera mounting structures, causing potential misalignment of stereo camera pairs and errors in distance calculations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a stereo camera pair system that captures images from opposite ends of an airframe member to quantify deformation and strain by analyzing differences in images, allowing for real-time or near-real-time processing to determine deformation metrics, such as distance and force, and calibrating distance calculations to reduce errors caused by member movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If strain sensors are used to detect deformation at discrete locations, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical strain sensors with an optical imaging system. A camera captures images of the member, and image processing algorithms calculate deformation by analyzing changes in the member's appearance between images. This substitution eliminates the need for physical sensors attached to the member, reducing device complexity and weight while maintaining deformation detection capability.
2Measurement precision
If stereo camera pairs are spaced apart to detect depth, then measurement precision is improved, but alignment stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses image copying and processing techniques to compensate for camera misalignment. By capturing images with a moving camera and then processing these images to calculate deformation, the system can tolerate camera movement and misalignment. The image processing algorithms account for the camera's position changes, effectively copying the measurement function without requiring rigid camera mounting.
3Measurement precision
If cameras are mounted on airframe members to measure deformation, then measurement precision is improved, but camera misalignment occurs due to member movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the camera's own movement is detected and used to correct subsequent measurements. The system captures images, processes them to determine camera displacement, and uses this displacement information to adjust the reference frame for deformation calculations. This feedback loop compensates for camera misalignment caused by member movement, maintaining measurement reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A stereo camera pair may be used to determine deformation and/or strain on a member based on differences in calculated movement of the cameras that capture images. In some embodiments, a first camera may be mounted to a first end of a member and a second camera may be mounted to a second end of the member opposite the first end. As the member bends, twists, or deforms in other ways, the deformation may be detectable based on differences in images captured by the first and second camera. This data may be used to detect possible wear or damage to the member, as a control input to a vehicle to reduce possible wear or damage to the member, as a prompt to initiate maintenance or inspection of the member, and/or for other reasons.