David E Cloud

US Patent:

6480271, Nov 12, 2002

Filed:

Jan 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/756385

Inventors:

David J. Cloud - Boothwyn PA
Paul DiJoseph - Secane PA
Joe Tobin - Boothwyn PA
Steve Temple - Chadds Ford PA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

G01B 1126

US Classification:

3561521, 356142, 356140

Abstract:

A system for visually pointing out locations on a three-dimensional structure such as an airframe of an aircraft includes a laser head that traverses an elongate track erected to pass through or adjacent to the structure. The laser head is traversed and stopped at various positions along the track, and from each position the laser head is calibrated by directing the laser beam onto three or more reference locations on the structure whose nominal coordinates are known in a reference coordinate system such as used in a CAD-CAM definition of the structure. The laser head is operable to determine in its own internal coordinate system the direction of the laser bean to each reference location and the distance to the reference location, and from this information a calibration is determined for relating measurements made by the laser head to the reference coordinate system. Once calibrated, the laser head is positioned along the track as needed to establish clear lines of sight to a group of work locations and is used to point out each work location at which work operations are to be performed, which can include marking the structure with indicia or attaching a hardware item at the location.