Abstract: One form of the present application provides a system comprising an illumination source capable of providing an electromagnetic illumination of an engine component, an imaging system structured to capture illumination of the engine component, a component manipulation system structured to position the engine component in a variety of orientations relative to one of the illumination source and the imaging system, a computer based user interface capable of identifying an inspection protocol defined to acquire an image of the engine component at the variety of positions using the illumination system, the imaging system and the component manipulation system, and a processor configured to process the inspection protocol for the purposes of analyzing the acquired image in response to the inspection protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus of an automated object manipulation system includes a support base; a finger assembly mechanically coupled to the support base; a first drive unit operable to rotate the finger assembly about a first axis; a second drive unit operable to rotate the finger assembly about a second axis; a third drive unit operable to rotate the finger assembly about a third axis, and a processor capable of conducting a profile assessment; determining a manipulation program in response to the profile assessment; and controlling the finger assembly in response to the manipulation program where the finger assembly has a support bracket with a set of parallel jaws and the support bracket is mechanically coupled to the first drive unit, a linking bracket mechanically coupled to the second drive unit and a circular frame mechanically coupled to the finger assembly and the third drive unit.

Abstract: A method for inspecting surfaces including acquiring a surface image from a surface of a component; providing an image registration for the surface image; inspecting the component in response to the image registration to produce an input data set; creating an output data set in response to the input data set utilizing a fuzzy logic algorithm; and identifying a surface feature in response to the surface image and the output data set where acquiring the surface image further includes generating a radiation media; directing the radiation media at the component; detecting a responding radiation media in response to the directed radiation media and the component; creating the surface image in response to detecting the responding radiation media; and adjusting the generation of the radiation media in response to the surface image and a standard image.

Abstract: An apparatus for an illumination system including a concentric light source providing a quantity of light; a diffusion shield to diffuse the light and produce a diffused illumination where the diffused illumination is provided to a component positioned in an interior portion of the diffusion shield; a support structure where the diffusion shield is mechanically coupled with the support structure at a first base portion of the diffusion shield and where the concentric light sources are mechanically coupled with the support structure and positioned radially outward from the first base portion of the diffusion shield; and a harvesting shield where the harvesting shield is mechanically coupled with the support structure and positioned radially outward from the concentric light sources and where the harvesting shield redirects at least a portion of the quantity of light from the concentric light sources towards the diffusion shield.

Abstract: A method for inspecting surfaces including acquiring a surface image from a surface of a component; providing an image registration for the surface image; inspecting the component in response to the image registration to produce an input data set; creating an output data set in response to the input data set utilizing a fuzzy logic algorithm; and identifying a surface feature in response to the surface image and the output data set where acquiring the surface image further includes generating a radiation media; directing the radiation media at the component; detecting a responding radiation media in response to the directed radiation media and the component; creating the surface image in response to detecting the responding radiation media; and adjusting the generation of the radiation media in response to the surface image and a standard image.

Abstract: An apparatus for an illumination system including a concentric light source providing a quantity of light; a diffusion shield to diffuse the light and produce a diffused illumination where the diffused illumination is provided to a component positioned in an interior portion of the diffusion shield; a support structure where the diffusion shield is mechanically coupled with the support structure at a first base portion of the diffusion shield and where the concentric light sources are mechanically coupled with the support structure and positioned radially outward from the first base portion of the diffusion shield; and a harvesting shield where the harvesting shield is mechanically coupled with the support structure and positioned radially outward from the concentric light sources and where the harvesting shield redirects at least a portion of the quantity of light from the concentric light sources towards the diffusion shield.

Abstract: An apparatus of an automated object manipulation system includes a support base; a finger assembly mechanically coupled to the support base; a first drive unit operable to rotate the finger assembly about a first axis; a second drive unit operable to rotate the finger assembly about a second axis; a third drive unit operable to rotate the finger assembly about a third axis, and a processor capable of conducting a profile assessment; determining a manipulation program in response to the profile assessment; and controlling the finger assembly in response to the manipulation program where the finger assembly has a support bracket with a set of parallel jaws and the support bracket is mechanically coupled to the first drive unit, a linking bracket mechanically coupled to the second drive unit and a circular frame mechanically coupled to the finger assembly and the third drive unit.

Abstract: One form of the present application provides a system comprising an illumination source capable of providing an electromagnetic illumination of an engine component, an imaging system structured to capture illumination of the engine component, a component manipulation system structured to position the engine component in a variety of orientations relative to one of the illumination source and the imaging system, a computer based user interface capable of identifying an inspection protocol defined to acquire an image of the engine component at the variety of positions using the illumination system, the imaging system and the component manipulation system, and a processor configured to process the inspection protocol for the purposes of analyzing the acquired image in response to the inspection protocol.