Abstract: A ground-based visual-inspection system includes a ground-based visual-inspection apparatus and a control system. The ground-based visual-inspection apparatus includes a mobile base, an actuatable arm coupled to the mobile base, and an effector coupled to the actuatable arm. The actuatable arm is locatable in a three dimensional space. The end effector includes a camera configured to capture images of a structure, such as an aircraft. The control system is configured to determine location information of the camera relative to a reference location and associate the location information with the images.

Abstract: A forming tool for forming leading edges of turbine blades is disclosed. In various embodiments, a forming tool may comprise a cylindrically-shaped body having a notch around the circumference of the cylindrically-shaped body. The notch may be positioned perpendicularly to a center axis of the cylindrically-shaped body. Further, the notch may have a notch contour with an upper notch contour and a lower notch contour, and where the notch contour is a relief of a selected turbine blade leading edge. The forming tool may be a grinding tool or a cutting tool. Moreover, a forming process may comprise forming, by a forming tool, a first portion of a turbine blade leading edge with a rough edge result, and forming, by a milling cutter, a second portion of the turbine blade leading edge with a rough edge result.

Abstract: Situational-awareness controllers and methods to increase situational-awareness for an actor associated with a triggering event are described. An example method includes in response to receiving a notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor, a computing device accessing information that includes related to an actor associated with the triggering event. The computing device correlates the information to a compilation of historical information by (i) determining whether the actor's location is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and (ii) determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event. The computing device generates a command based on a result of the correlating and sends the command to at least one controllable device.

Abstract: A dual function non-destructive inspection apparatus comprises a frame structure, a thermographic inspection system, a displacement system, and an ultrasonic inspection system. The frame structure has a channel, a first end, and a second end. The channel extends through the frame structure from the first end to the second end. The thermographic inspection system is associated with the first end of the frame structure. The displacement system is connected to the second end of the frame structure. The ultrasonic inspection system is connected to the displacement system such that the displacement system moves the ultrasonic inspection system relative to the channel of the frame structure.

Abstract: Situational-awareness controllers and methods to increase situational-awareness for an actor associated with a triggering event are described. An example method includes in response to receiving a notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor, a computing device accessing information that includes related to an actor associated with the triggering event. The computing device correlates the information to a compilation of historical information by (i) determining whether the actor's location is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and (ii) determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event. The computing device generates a command based on a result of the correlating and sends the command to at least one controllable device.

Abstract: Situational-awareness controllers and methods to increase situational-awareness for an actor associated with a triggering event are described. An example method includes in response to receiving a notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor, a computing device accessing information that includes related to an actor associated with the triggering event. The computing device correlates the information to a compilation of historical information by (i) determining whether the actor's location is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and (ii) determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event. The computing device generates a command based on a result of the correlating and sends the command to at least one controllable device.

Abstract: A system for quantifying x-ray backscatter system performance is disclosed. The system includes one or more x-ray backscatter detectors, an x-ray tube, a support, and a plurality of rods mounted on the support and arranged in groups. Each group of rods includes at least two rods having the same width. The system also includes a user interface configured to connect to the x-ray backscatter detectors to receive a backscatter signal from the x-ray backscatter detectors associated with the x-ray tube, where the user interface plots a modulation transfer function representing x-ray backscatter for each rod of the plurality of rods from x-rays transmitted by the x-ray tube.

Abstract: A dual function non-destructive inspection apparatus comprises a frame structure, a thermographic inspection system, a displacement system, and an ultrasonic inspection system. The frame structure has a channel, a first end, and a second end. The channel extends through the frame structure from the first end to the second end. The thermographic inspection system is associated with the first end of the frame structure. The displacement system is connected to the second end of the frame structure. The ultrasonic inspection system is connected to the displacement system such that the displacement system moves the ultrasonic inspection system relative to the channel of the frame structure.

Abstract: A system for quantifying x-ray backscatter system performance is disclosed. The system includes one or more x-ray backscatter detectors, an x-ray tube, a support, and a plurality of rods mounted on the support and arranged in groups. Each group of rods includes at least two rods having the same width. The system also includes a user interface configured to connect to the x-ray backscatter detectors to receive a backscatter signal from the x-ray backscatter detectors associated with the x-ray tube, where the user interface plots a modulation transfer function representing x-ray backscatter for each rod of the plurality of rods from x-rays transmitted by the x-ray tube.

Abstract: Situational-awareness controllers and methods to increase situational-awareness for an actor associated with a triggering event are described. An example method includes in response to receiving a notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor, a computing device accessing information that includes related to an actor associated with the triggering event. The computing device correlates the information to a compilation of historical information by (i) determining whether the actor's location is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and (ii) determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event. The computing device generates a command based on a result of the correlating and sends the command to at least one controllable device.

Abstract: A ground-based visual-inspection system includes a ground-based visual-inspection apparatus and a control system. The ground-based visual-inspection apparatus includes a mobile base, an actuatable arm coupled to the mobile base, and an effector coupled to the actuatable arm. The actuatable arm is locatable in a three dimensional space. The end effector includes a camera configured to capture images of a structure, such as an aircraft. The control system is configured to determine location information of the camera relative to a reference location and associate the location information with the images.

Abstract: A system for quantifying x-ray backscatter system performance may include a support; a plurality of rods mounted on the support; the rods of the plurality of rods arranged parallel to each other, having generally curved outer surfaces, and being arranged in groups of varying widths, each group of the groups having at least two of the rods of a same width; and a user interface configured to be connected to receive a backscatter signal from an x-ray backscatter detector associated with an x-ray tube, apply a transfer function to generate a transfer curve representing x-ray backscatter for each rod of the plurality of rods from x-rays transmitted by the x-ray tube.

Abstract: Situational-awareness controllers and methods to increase situational-awareness for an actor associated with a triggering event are described. An example method includes in response to receiving a notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor, a computing device accessing information that includes related to an actor associated with the triggering event. The computing device correlates the information to a compilation of historical information by (i) determining whether the actor's location is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and (ii) determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event. The computing device generates a command based on a result of the correlating and sends the command to at least one controllable device.

Abstract: An automated human personnel fall arresting system including a holonomic base platform, a boom arm movably mounted to and depending from the base platform, at least a portion of the arm being movable in three degrees-of-freedom relative to the base platform, a tether supported by the arm, an operator harness coupled to the tether so as to be dependent from the arm, at least one sensor disposed on the arm and configured to sense movement of the portion of the arm in two degrees-of-freedom of the three degrees-of-freedom, and a controller mounted to the base platform and communicably coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to automatically control position of the base platform in two orthogonal translational directions and one rotation direction controlled independently from translation, relative to the operator harness, based on signals from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an operation on a workpiece using a multi-axis compliant end-effector for attachment to a robotic device. The end-effector is positioned at a nominal location of a workpiece feature on which the operation is to be performed. The end-effector is passively aligned with the workpiece feature by contacting the end-effector with the workpiece feature. The operation is performed on the workpiece feature in response to aligning the end effector with the workpiece feature.

Abstract: A forming tool for forming leading edges of turbine blades is disclosed. In various embodiments, a forming tool may comprise a cylindrically-shaped body having a notch around the circumference of the cylindrically-shaped body. The notch may be positioned perpendicularly to a center axis of the cylindrically-shaped body. Further, the notch may have a notch contour with an upper notch contour and a lower notch contour, and where the notch contour is a relief of a selected turbine blade leading edge. The forming tool may be a grinding tool or a cutting tool. Moreover, a forming process may comprise forming, by a forming tool, a first portion of a turbine blade leading edge with a rough edge result, and forming, by a milling cutter, a second portion of the turbine blade leading edge with a rough edge result.

Abstract: A forming tool for forming leading edges of turbine blades is disclosed. In various embodiments, a forming tool may comprise a cylindrically-shaped body having a notch around the circumference of the cylindrically-shaped body. The notch may be positioned perpendicularly to a center axis of the cylindrically-shaped body. Further, the notch may have a notch contour with an upper notch contour and a lower notch contour, and where the notch contour is a relief of a selected turbine blade leading edge. The forming tool may be a grinding tool or a cutting tool. Moreover, a forming process may comprise forming, by a forming tool, a first portion of a turbine blade leading edge with a rough edge result, and forming, by a milling cutter, a second portion of the turbine blade leading edge with a rough edge result.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing situational awareness for a tool operator and an individual approaching a working field of the tool are described. An example method includes activating a first device, where the first device has a working field and has an operational path configured to intersect a barrier. A proximity sensor of the second device then detects a presence of an object in a sensor zone of the second device. The second device transmits a wireless signal to the first device indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device. Then at least one of the first device and the second device issues a first alert indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device.

Abstract: Situational-awareness controllers and methods to increase situational-awareness for an actor associated with a triggering event are described. An example method includes in response to receiving a notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor, a computing device accessing information that includes related to an actor associated with the triggering event. The computing device correlates the information to a compilation of historical information by (i) determining whether the actor's location is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and (ii) determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event. The computing device generates a command based on a result of the correlating and sends the command to at least one controllable device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing situational awareness for a tool operator and an individual approaching a working field of the tool are described. An example method includes activating a first device, where the first device has a working field and has au operational path configured to intersect a barrier. A proximity sensor of the second device then detects a presence of an object in a sensor zone of the second device. The second device transmits a wireless signal to the first device indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device. Then at least one of the first device and the second device issues a first alert indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device.