Detecting Geometric Faults from Measured Data

Abstract

Manufactured artefacts such as major aircraft components (wings, fuselage, tailplane) are defined at the concept and design stages using a variety of methods, namely Computer Aided Design (CAD), NACA aerofoil definitions or purely analytical descriptions (polynomials, splines, etc.). At the end of the design and development the final manufactured artefact can only be verified if it is measured. The measured data is always a set of discrete points commonly described as a point cloud (x, y, z coordinates). Our goal here is to detect the faults from point cloud and reconstruct the measured object with as few points as possible. We can then insert this minimal reconstruction into CAD, and use analytical methods, to verify if the design intent was achieved: that is if the faults interfere with flight.