A system (20) includes at least one drone (26) that is equipped with an imaging device (40) and a light source (42). At least one processor (34) is configured to: operate the at least one drone (26) to fly into a gas turbine engine (22) to a first position (P1) with respect to a component (48) in the gas turbine engine (22), operate the imaging device (40) and the light source (42) to take an image (50, 51a, 51b) of a target surface (48a) of the component (48) from the first position (P1), identify whether the image (50, 51a, 51b) includes an obstruction (52) blocking a portion of the target surface (48a) from view of the imaging device (40), in response to identifying the obstruction (52), operate the at least one drone (26) to fly to a second position (P2) from which there is a line-of-sight to the target surface (48a) without the obstruction (52), and operate the imaging device (40) and the light source (42) to obtain an unobstructed image (50a) of the target surface (48a) from the second position (P2).
GAS TURBINE ENGINE DRONE INSPECTION SYSTEM
GASTURBINENMOTORDROHNENINSPEKTIONSSYSTEM
SYSTÈME D'INSPECTION DE MOTEUR À TURBINE À GAZ AVEC DRONE
2025-05-07
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B64F GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT , Boden- oder Flugzeugträgerdeckeinrichtungen besonders ausgebildet für die Verwendung in Verbindung mit Luftfahrzeugen |