A gyroscope-based system and method is disclosed. Image information data is collected; a mechanical arm working environment image is modeled; a heat source supply apparatus and a gyroscope are provided at the mechanical arm proximal end; the position of the proximal end is accurately measured by accurately tracking the heat source at the proximal end; the relative position of the mechanical arm distal end is accurately calculated by using high-precision angle information measured by the high-precision gyroscope in combination with a number-theoretic formula. The disclosure provides separately determining the position of the distal end, or for assisting other algorithms or apparatuses that track the position of the mechanical arm distal end in error correction and calibration of the position of the mechanical arm distal end. The position of the mechanical arm distal end can be continuously and dynamically tracked in real time, and virtualized in the corresponding image system.

A scanning apparatus for predictive shimming includes a scanning platform. The scanning apparatus also include a first scanner, coupled to the scanning platform, and a second scanner, coupled to the scanning platform. The scanning platform is configured to move the first scanner and the second scanner together along an X-axis and a Z-axis. The scanning platform is also configured to move the first scanner and the second scanner independent of and relative to each other along a Y-axis and a Z-axis. A first field of view of the first scanner and a second field of view of the second scanner at least partially overlap when the first scanner and the second scanner move in opposite directions along the Y-axis.

Disclosed herein is a method of repairing a component. The method includes scanning a damaged area of the component, and preparing a repair plan in response to the scanning. The method may also include providing the repair plan to a guided tool having a position correcting controller, and removing damaged material from the component in preparation for a repair operation. An apparatus is also disclosed that includes a computing device configured for performing actions. The computing device includes a processor and a local memory. The actions include detecting damage to the component, recording position information of the detected damage, and incorporating the position information in the repair plan.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for machining a part. Methods include generating a first spatial representation identifying a first orientation of a machining tool, and mechanically coupling an end effector to the part at a first position, the end effector including the machining tool and a coupling tool. Methods include generating a second spatial representation identifying a second orientation of the machining tool relative to the part, the first and second spatial representations being generated based on images captured by at least one imaging device and measurements from a plurality of sensors. Methods include identifying a plurality of differences that result from the coupling and that include a rotational distance and translational distance, the identifying being based on a comparison of a first image and a second image. Methods include adjusting the machining tool to return the machining tool to the first orientation at the first position.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided repair of physical structures include: generating a two dimensional difference image from a first three dimensional model of at least one actual three dimensional surface of a manufactured object, and a second three dimensional model of at least one source three dimensional surface used as input to a manufacturing process that generated the manufactured object; obtaining from an image-to-image translation based machine learning algorithm, trained using pairs of input images representing deformed and deformed plus surface defected added versions of a nominal three dimensional surface, a translated version of the two dimensional image; generating from the translated version of the two dimensional image a third three dimensional model of at least one morphed three dimensional surface corresponding to the at least one source three dimensional surface. Further, defects can be removed based on the third three dimensional model.

An image inspection device which inspects the inspection target by images includes: an imaging part, which images the inspection target; a changing part, which makes the location of the inspection target with respect to the imaging part periodically and relatively change; and a control part, which makes the imaging part image the inspection target so as to acquire a plurality of images having different imaging conditions at a plurality of timings which is periodically repeated due to the relative changes and at which the inspection target is in a predefined location with respect to the imaging part.

A system for use in performing maintenance on a turbine rotor. The system includes a rotor mount configured to receive the turbine rotor, a robotic device, a visual inspection device removably coupleable to the robotic device, and a computing device. The computing device is configured to direct the robotic device to evaluate, with the visual inspection device, the turbine rotor at different circumferential locations thereof to obtain rotor axis data, determine a centerline of the turbine rotor based on the rotor axis data, generate a coordinate system including the centerline of the turbine rotor, direct the robotic device to evaluate, with the visual inspection device, each blade on at least one stage of the turbine rotor to obtain blade position data relative to the centerline, and populate the coordinate system with the blade position data.

A system and method that relies on the principles of material science, deformable body mechanics, continuum mechanics and additive manufacturing to reduce the costs associated with additive manufacturing. Physical properties are used by numerical solution methods, such as the Finite Element Method (FEM) or Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), to deform an original model of an object to be manufactured into a viable configuration that reduces fabrication material, time, and cost when manufacturing an object through additive manufacturing.

A system and method that relies on the principles of material science, deformable body mechanics, continuum mechanics and additive manufacturing to reduce the costs associated with additive manufacturing. Physical properties are used by numerical solution methods, such as the Finite Element Method (FEM) or Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), to deform an original model of an object to be manufactured into a viable configuration that reduces fabrication material, time, and cost when manufacturing an object through additive manufacturing.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for machining a part. Methods include generating a first spatial representation identifying a first orientation of a machining tool, and mechanically coupling an end effector to the part at a first position, the end effector including the machining tool and a coupling tool. Methods include generating a second spatial representation identifying a second orientation of the machining tool relative to the part, the first and second spatial representations being generated based on images captured by at least one imaging device and measurements from a plurality of sensors. Methods include identifying a plurality of differences that result from the coupling and that include a rotational distance and translational distance, the identifying being based on a comparison of a first image and a second image. Methods include adjusting the machining tool to return the machining tool to the first orientation at the first position.