A system includes an inspection robot having a plurality of input sensors, the plurality of input sensors distributed horizontally relative to an inspection surface and configured to provide inspection data of the inspection surface at selected horizontal positions; a controller, comprising: a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position of the inspection robot on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret the inspection data, and to correlate the inspection data to the inspection robot position on the inspection surface; and wherein the data positioning circuit is further structured to determine position informed inspection data in response to the correlating of the inspection data with the inspection robot position.

An apparatus for measuring thickness includes: a chamber; a sound wave transmitter transmitting a sound wave in the chamber; a sound wave receiver receiving the sound wave transmitted from the sound wave transmitter in the chamber; and a supporter between the sound wave transmitter and the sound wave receiver.

A system including an inspection robot having a plurality of sensors, a further sensor, and a controller. The controller having circuitry to receive inspection data with a first resolution from the plurality of sensors, determine a characteristic on the inspection surface based on the inspection data, and provide an inspection operation adjustment in response to the characteristic, wherein the inspection operation adjustment includes a change from the first resolution to a second resolution. The change from the first resolution to the second resolution includes enabling the further sensor where the further sensor is at least one of: horizontally distributed with or vertically displaced from the plurality of sensors relative to a travel path of the plurality of sensors, and at least one of: offset in alignment from the travel path of the plurality of sensors, or operated out of phase with the plurality of sensors.

A handheld device for making 3D topography measurements of surface discontinuities in high performance structures, such as aerostructures (e.g., aluminum fuselages). Lights illuminate the discontinuity from multiple angles, and a camera captures images of the discontinuity. A thickness sensor generates thickness data regarding a thickness of the base material and the top protective coating. A position sensor generates position data regarding a location of the discontinuity on the structure. A processor generates geometry data regarding a geometry of the discontinuity based on the images, performs an analysis of the geometry, thickness, and position data, and communicates a result of the analysis on a display. A conforming membrane and/or a gel and an opaque lubricant may be applied over and conform to the discontinuity in order to make more uniform a reflectivity difference and a color difference between the discontinuity and an adjacent portion of the structure.

An inspection system can include a handheld inspection device having a meter portion comprising at least two different paint meters, at least one display, at least one processor configured to present paint measuring locations on an inspected object on the at least one display, and communication circuits configured to transmit inspection data generated by meter portion. Based on inspection results, a value of the inspected object can be automatically adjusted. A database can store inspection data for large numbers of objects, and track locations of objects. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Inspection robots with a multi-function piston connecting a drive module to a central chassis and systems thereof are disclosed. An example inspection robot may include a center chassis coupled to a payload coupled to at least two inspection sensors. The inspection robot may further include a drive module coupled to the center chassis, the drive module having a drive wheel to engage an inspection surface and a drive piston mechanically interposed between the center chassis and the drive module. The example may further include wherein the drive piston in a first position couples the drive module to the center chassis at a minimum distance between and the drive piston in a second position couples the drive module to the center chassis at a maximum distance between. The example may further include wherein the drive module is independently rotatable relative to the center chassis.

Methods and systems disclosed herein use acoustic energy to determine a gap between a wafer and an integrated circuit (IC) processing system and/or determine a thickness of a material layer of the wafer during IC processing implemented by the IC processing system. An exemplary method includes emitting acoustic energy through a substrate and a material layer disposed thereover. The substrate is positioned within an IC processing system. The method further includes receiving reflected acoustic energy from a surface of the substrate and a surface of the material layer disposed thereover and converting the reflected acoustic energy into electrical signals. The electrical signals indicate a thickness of the material layer.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for acoustic inspection of a surface are described. An example system may include an inspection robot structured to traverse an inspection surface in a direction of travel. The inspection robot may include a payload having a plurality of arms, connected to the inspection robot, to rotate around respective ones of a plurality of axes while the inspection robot traverses the inspection surface, where each of the plurality of axes is in the direction of travel. A plurality of sleds may be connected to the plurality of arms, and a plurality of inspection sensors connected to the plurality of sleds. The plurality of inspection sensors may be spaced apart from each other at adjustable positions to inspect the inspection surface at an adjustable resolution.

A method can include identifying an inspected object with an inspection device; viewing the inspected object through an augmented reality device to identify points; and measuring a thickness of a layer at the inspection points. In response to detecting a region of interest on the surface of the inspected object, an image of the region of interest can be taken. By operation of communication circuits, at least the thickness measurements and images can be transmitted to a server system. A value of the inspected object can be adjusted based on at least the thickness measurements and images from the at least one inspection device. Corresponding devices and systems are also disclosed.

Systems and methods for configuring a robot for inspecting an inspection surface are disclosed. An example system may include an inspection robot having a payload coupled to at least two inspection sensors and a controller. The controller may include a route profile processing circuit to interpret route profile data for the inspection robot, a configuration determining circuit to determine one or more configurations for the inspection robot in response to the route profile data; and a configuration processing circuit to provide configuration data in response to the determined one or more configurations, the configuration data defining, at least in part, one or more inspection characteristics for the inspection robot.