A damage digitization system using optical cameras is proposed as part of a comprehensive nondestructive inspection platform. The advantages of such a system are the ease of use and the lack of a need for expensive specialized hardware. A combination of image processing, target recognition, and computer graphics algorithms will be used to accurately identify the location and size of each damage incident, and propagate them into a variety of display and analysis tools via a non proprietary file format.
Benefit: The tools developed for this proposal should allow the Navy to more quickly and accurately access the damage to the composite surfaces of its aircraft, thereby extending the operation life of their vehicles in service. Additionally, these tools will augment SDL's capability to offer prognostics solutions into a wide range of applications for which NDI is seen as a way of increasing the safety and useful life of their structural components.
Keywords: imaging, imaging, Composites, digitization, Structural Damage, Nondestructive inspection, Nondestructive Evaluation