Method of and apparatus for monitoring the condition of structural components

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of monitoring the condition of structural components, in which an optical sensor in conjunction with a computing unit ascertains image deviations from successive images of the structural components to be monitored, and therefrom ascertains changes in shape of the structure. Robust three-dimensional scanning of the structural components is possible when using two or more sensors. The invention further relates to an apparatus for monitoring the condition of structural components having an optical sensor and an apparatus having two or more sensors. Finally the invention relates to an aircraft in which the methods or apparatuses according to the invention are used.

主权项

1. A method of monitoring the condition of structural components of an aircraft comprising:
producing images of the structural component with at least a first camera and a second camera, the first and second cameras being mutually spaced; communicating the images to at least one computing unit; ascertaining the geometry data of a monitored region of the structural component from the images; ascertaining geometry deviations of discrete regions of the structural component from the comparison of the ascertained geometry data with a reference geometry data set; and ascertaining changes in shape of the structural component from the geometry deviations by the at least one computing unit, wherein the size of objectives of the first and second cameras and the spacing of the first and second cameras depend on the size of the monitored region of the structural component to be monitored, wherein the first camera looks onto a first external pivotable mirror and the second camera looks onto a second external pivotable mirror, wherein each of the first and second external mirrors is pivoted for continuously scanning a surface of the structural component and for enlarging the viewing angle of the first camera and the second camera.