Abstract: Systems, processes, articles of manufacture, and techniques may be used to facilitate the machining of a surface. In particular implementations, machining a surface may include machining a first surface location with an end effector that is part of a cart movable over the surface. Machining the surface may also include measuring the position of the end effector with a laser tracking system and generating commands for an actuator that positions the end effector. The commands may be based on the position of the end effector and a stored representation of a shape to be achieved by machining.

Abstract: Systems, processes, articles of manufacture, and techniques may be used to measure a surface to be machined. In particular implementations, a representation of a surface to be machined may be determined. Measuring the surface may include measuring a plurality of surface points at each of a plurality of surface measurement locations with a measurement system moving over a surface and measuring the position of the measurement system. Determining a representation of the surface to be machined may include determining an estimated shape for the surface based on the surface measurements at the surface measurement locations. The surface measurements, the surface measurement locations, and the estimated shape may be stored in computer memory for future retrieval and use.

Abstract: Systems, processes, articles of manufacture, and techniques may be used to determine a machining shape for a surface to be machined. In particular implementations, determining a machining shape may include retrieving stored surface measurements for a surface to be machined, the measurements representing the surface at a plurality of points for each of a number of measurement locations on the surface, and analyzing the measurements to determine a shape to which the surface should be machined. Determining a machining shape may also include determining the surface that may be achieved by machining to the determined shape, analyzing the determined surface to determine whether it is acceptable, and storing the determined shape based on whether the determined surface is acceptable.