According to one implementation, an ultrasonic inspection system includes: a first inspection unit, a second inspection unit, and a signal processing system. The first inspection unit acquires a detection signal of a first ultrasonic wave in a first inspection section of an structural object, using a first ultrasonic transducer and a first ultrasonic sensor. The second inspection unit acquires a detection signal of a second ultrasonic wave in a second inspection section of the structural object, using a second ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic sensor. The signal processing system obtains an index value representing inspection information of at least one of the first inspection section and the second inspection section, based on the detection signal of the first ultrasonic wave and the detection signal of the second ultrasonic wave.

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.

A motorized rolling maintenance cart that utilizes the angled trailing edge geometry of an airfoil-shaped body (such as a wind turbine blade or rotor blade) to traverse the length of the airfoil-shaped body. The trailing edge-following maintenance cart may be used to carry personnel doing maintenance activities on the blades, such as local repairs or re-painting. In accordance with one aspect, the maintenance cart carries non-destructive inspection sensor units or other maintenance hardware over the surface of the airfoil-shaped body (e.g., in a spanwise direction). In accordance with another aspect, the trailing edge-following maintenance cart is configured to also provide fall protection to one or more independently movable crawler vehicles by means of cables. Alternative embodiments may include only one of the two aspects.

An aircraft control system includes a flow control device and a control circuit. The flow control device is configured to control a flow of air around an aircraft. The control circuit is configured to control the flow control device so that a pressure distribution loaded on a surface of a structure that constitutes the aircraft is equal to a control value of a pressure distribution calculated based on a physical quantity detected by a sensor provided in the aircraft. The physical quantity relates to the air.

Apparatus and methods for laser bond inspection (LBI) of internal bonds in a composite structure with limited access. The technology solves the problem of access for an LBI process head through selection of optics, an articulated optical path and simplification of the method of collecting debris. A small-format process head is specifically designed for laser bond inspection in limited-access spaces. This process head allows access to locations within ½ inch of a nearby wall or structure and utilizes a laser beam that is much smaller (˜2-3 mm) in diameter. The apparatus incorporates articulated joints to improve access to locations in the structure being inspected. The process head may also be configured to protect the optical elements (e.g., the focusing lens) from blow-back of debris from the LBI inspection process.

Disclosed herein is a non-destructive inspection system. The non-destructive inspection system comprises a motion platform and a tool assembly. The tool assembly is coupled to the motion platform such that the tool assembly is movable relative to the motion platform. The tool assembly comprises an inspection tool assembly that comprises a base structure coupled to the tool assembly and a plurality of probe assemblies coupled to the base structure. Each probe assembly comprises a first linear actuator and a probe, different from the probe of any other one of the plurality of probe assemblies, for inspecting a different structural feature of a structure. Each probe is moveable, along a first axis relative to another one of the probes and substantially perpendicular to the base structure, using the first linear actuator of the corresponding one of the plurality of probe assemblies.

A scanning system for imaging structural features below the surface of an object, the scanning system comprising a transducer module configured to transmit ultrasound signals towards an object and to receive ultrasound signals reflected from the object whereby data pertaining to an internal structure of the object can be obtained; an analysis module coupled to the transducer module and configured to analyse received ultrasound signals to identify a feature in the received ultrasound signals; and a gating module configured to gate received ultrasound signals in dependence on the identified feature.

According to one implementation, a structural health monitoring system includes an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic sensor, a strain sensor and a signal processing part. The ultrasonic transducer oscillates an ultrasonic wave to the first inspection area. The ultrasonic sensor detects a waveform of at least one of a transmission wave of the ultrasonic wave and a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave. The transmission wave has transmitted the first inspection area. The reflected wave has been reflected in the first inspection area. The strain sensor detects a strain amount of the second inspection area. The signal processing part obtains at least one index, representing health of the structural object including the first inspection area and the second inspection area, based on the waveform detected by the ultrasonic sensor and the strain amount detected by the strain sensor.

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.

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.