Low-cost, Position Indicator for Nondestructive Inspection C-Scanning Navy STTR FY2005 Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2005 Topic No.: N05-T004 Topic Title: Low-cost, Position Indicator for Nondestructive Inspection C-Scanning Proposal No.: N054-004-0413 Firm: Arc Second, Inc. 44880 Falcon Place, Suite 100 Dulles, Virginia 20166 Contact: Thomas Hedges Phone: (703) 435-5400 Web Site: www.arcsecond.com Abstract: Arc Second, Inc, of Dulles, Virginia, has developed a high accuracy 3-D measurement system that is ideally suited to the location of non-destructive inspection tools. The system uses small infra-red laser transmitters that create rotating fan beams, and lightweight measurement sensors that can readily be attached to any tool. The system can be used indoors or outdoors at ranges up to 50 m. At a distance of 30 m from the transmitters, the system has been demonstrated to be accurate to better than 1.0 mm RMS with stationary sensors. This accuracy significantly exceeds the accuracy of 0.1 inch (2.5 mm) requested in this proposal, over an area that is 2,500 times larger than the required 2 ft x 2 ft area. High accuracy measurements can be made at a rate of one or two per second, and at higher rates with slightly reduced accuracy. Benefits: Arc Second's 3-D position measurement system is ideally suited to the application discussed in this STTR solicitation because inspections can be conducted over half of the aircraft using only two transmitters, which do not have to be repositioned during the measurement process. With four transmitters, the entire aircraft can be inspected. Once the transmitters are set up and calibrated, several operators can collect measurement data at the same time from different parts of the aircraft, allowing the measurements to be completed quickly. The small size and weight of the optical sensors that determine position allow integration with many inspection tools. Return