Patent classifications
G01B17/025
System, apparatus and method for providing an interactive inspection map
Systems, apparatus and methods for providing an interactive inspection map are disclosed. An example apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map of an inspection surface may include an inspection visualization circuit to provide an inspection map to a user device in response to inspection data provided by a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to an inspection robot traversing the inspection surface, wherein the inspection map corresponds to at least a portion of the inspection surface. The apparatus may further include a user interaction circuit to interpret a user focus value from the user device, and an action request circuit to determine an action in response to the user focus value. The inspection visualization circuit may further update the inspection map in response to the determined action.
System and method for traversing an obstacle with an inspection robot
System and methods for traversing an obstacle with an inspection robot are disclosed. An example system may include an inspection robot including an obstacle sensor to interrogate an inspection surface. The example may further include an obstacle sensory data circuit to interpret obstacle sensory data provided by the obstacle sensor, an obstacle processing circuit to determine refined obstacle data, and an obstacle notification circuit to generate and provide obstacle notification data to a user interface device. The example system may further include a user interface circuit to interpret a user request value from the user interface device, and to determine an obstacle response command value in response to the user request value; and an obstacle configuration circuit to provide the obstacle response command value to the inspection robot during the interrogating of the inspection surface.
System, method, and apparatus for rapid development of an inspection scheme for an inspection robot
- Edward A. Bryner ,
- Kevin Y. Low ,
- Joshua D. Moore ,
- Dillon R. Jourde ,
- Francesco H. Trogu ,
- Jeffrey J. Mrkonich ,
- William J. Pridgen ,
- Domenic P. Rodriguez ,
- Alexander C. Watt ,
- Michael Stephen Auda ,
- Logan A. MacKenzie ,
- Ian Miller ,
- Samuel Theodore Westenberg ,
- Katherine Virginia Denner ,
- Benjamin A. Guise ,
- Yizhu Gu ,
- Todd Joslin ,
- Mark J. Loosararian ,
- Mark Cho ,
- Edwin H. Cho
Systems, methods and apparatus for rapid development of an inspection scheme for an inspection robot are disclosed. An apparatus may include an inspection definition circuit to interpret an inspection description value, and a robot configuration circuit to determine an inspection robot configuration description in response to the inspection description value. The apparatus may further include a configuration implementation circuit, communicatively coupled to a configuration interface of an inspection robot, to provide at least a portion of the inspection robot configuration description to the configuration interface.
System, apparatus and method for providing an inspection map
Systems, apparatus and methods for providing an inspection map are disclosed. An apparatus for performing an inspection may include an inspection data circuit to interpret inspection data, a robot positioning circuit to interpret position data, and a processed data circuit to link the inspection data with the position data to determine position-based inspection data. The apparatus may further include a user interaction circuit to interpret an inspection visualization request for an inspection map and an inspection visualization circuit to determine the inspection map based on the position-based inspection data, and a provisioning circuit structured to provide the inspection map to a user device.
Inspection robot having replaceable sensor sled portions
Systems and methods for an inspection robot having replaceable sensor sled portions are disclosed. An example system may include: an inspection robot including a plurality of payloads; a plurality of arms, each of the plurality of arms pivotally mounted to one of the plurality of payloads; and a plurality of sleds, each sled mounted to one of the plurality of arms. At least one of the plurality of sleds includes an upper portion coupled to a replaceable lower portion, where the replaceable lower portion includes a portion of a delay line for a sensor of the inspection robot.
DETERMINING LAYER CHARACTERISTICS IN MULTI-LAYERED ENVIRONMENTS
A system for measuring a number of layers in a layered environment includes an ultrasound transducer positioned at an exterior surface of a first layer at a first location. At least one receiving sensor is positioned perpendicular to the exterior surface of the first layer at a second location. The ultrasound transducer and the at least one receiving sensor are in communication with a computer processor, power source, and computer-readable memory. The ultrasound transducer is configured to emit a first ultrasound signal into the first layer at the first location. The at least one receiving sensor is configured to receive a plurality of propagated ultrasound signals. The processor is configured to determine a total number of layers in the layered environment based on at least one from the set of: a number of signals received and a number of propagation direction changes only of the first ultrasound signal.
Ultrasonic inspection of extents of voids or the like in heated material using fluid blowing
The present invention provides a method for inspecting a material to be inspected using ultrasound waves, the method including the following step 201 to step 301, in which step 201 is performed in a condition where: the surface temperature of a material under inspection—atmospheric temperature>2° C., and inspection using ultrasound waves in step 301 satisfies: a refractive attenuation rate≤1.5%. Step 201: blowing a fluid from a blowing port onto the material to be inspected. Step 301: inspecting the material to be inspected using the ultrasound waves after step 201 or at the same time as the step 201.
INSPECTION ROBOT
- Mark J. Loosararian ,
- Michael A. Binger ,
- Edward A. Bryner ,
- Edwin H. Cho ,
- Mark Cho ,
- Alexander R. Cuti ,
- Ignacio J. Cordova ,
- Benjamin A. Guise ,
- Dillon R. Jourde ,
- Kevin Y. Low ,
- Logan A. MacKenzie ,
- Joshua D. Moore ,
- Jeffrey J. Mrkonich ,
- William J. Pridgen ,
- Domenic P. Rodriguez ,
- Francesco H. Trogu ,
- Alex C. Watt ,
- Yizhu Gu ,
- Ian Miller ,
- Todd Joslin ,
- Katherine Virginia Denner ,
- Michael Stephen Auda ,
- Samuel Theodore Westenberg
An inspection robot includes a robot body, at least two sensors, a drive module, a stability assist device and an actuator. The at least two sensors are positioned to interrogate an inspection surface and are communicatively coupled to the robot body. The drive module includes at least two wheels that engage the inspection surface. The drive module is coupled to the robot body. The stability assist device is coupled to at least one of the robot body or the drive module. The actuator is coupled to the stability assist device at a first end, and coupled to one of the drive module or the robot body at a second end. The actuator is structured to selectively move the stability assist device between a first position and a second position. The first position includes a stored position. The second position includes a deployed position.
System, method, and apparatus for an inspection robot performing an ultrasonic inspection
A system includes an inspection robot having a plurality of acoustic sensors coupleable to an inspection surface through a couplant chamber defining a delay line therebetween; the plurality of acoustic sensors configured to provide raw acoustic data; a controller, comprising: an acoustic data circuit structured to interpret the raw acoustic data; a thickness processing circuit structured to determine a primary mode value and a primary mode score value in response to the raw acoustic data; and wherein the thickness processing circuit is further structured to determine a thickness value in response to the primary mode value and the primary mode score value.
Inspection robot having serial sensor operations
A system includes an inspection robot comprising a lead inspection sensor providing lead inspection data, and a trailing inspection sensor; a controller, comprising: an inspection data circuit structured to interpret the lead inspection data; a sensor configuration circuit structured to determine a trailing sensor configuration change for the trailing inspection sensor in response to the lead inspection data; and a sensor operation circuit structured to adjust a trailing sensor configuration for the trailing inspection sensor in response to the trailing sensor configuration change.