Patent Description:
Certain equipment and facilities, such as power generation equipment and facilities, oil and gas equipment and facilities, aircraft equipment and facilities, manufacturing equipment and facilities, and the like, include a plurality of interrelated systems, and processes. For example, power generation plants may include turbine systems and processes for operating and maintaining the turbine systems. Likewise, oil and gas operations may include carbonaceous fuel retrieval systems and processing equipment interconnected via pipelines. Similarly, aircraft systems may include airplanes and maintenance hangars useful in maintaining airworthiness and providing for maintenance support. During equipment operations, the equipment may degrade, encounter undesired conditions such as corrosion, wear and tear, and so on, potentially affecting overall equipment effectiveness. Certain inspection techniques, such as non-destructive inspection techniques or non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques, may be used to detect undesired equipment conditions.

In a conventional NDT system, data may be shared with other NDT operators or personnel using portable memory devices, paper, of through the telephone. As such, the amount of time to share data between NDT personnel may depend largely on the speed at which the physical portable memory device is physically dispatched to its target. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to improve the data sharing capabilities of the NDT system, for example, to more efficiently test and inspect a variety of systems and equipment.

NDT probes of NDT systems receive signals used to detect undesired equipment conditions. An operator may manually move the NDT probe over an inspection area to inspect a workpiece. Unfortunately, the signals received may be affected by the position and orientation of the NDT probe. Additionally, the speed at which the NDT probe is moved affects the probability of detection and productivity of the operator.

<CIT> describes a pipeline inspection vehicle comprising a speed transducer driven by a wheel and configured to provide feedback of the vehicle speed. The actual vehicle speed is compared with a preset desired speed and the difference signal is used to actuate a flow control of a hydraulic drive system for fine speed control.

<CIT> describes a manual inspection technique, where the speed of an inspection sensor is measured and compared with a predetermined speed range. In case the speed of the sensor exceeds an upper limit value or lower limit value of a reference speed, a light or sound warning signal is generated.

<CIT> and <CIT> describe each an ultrasonic detection system comprising an ultrasonic probe. During ultrasound scanning the in-plane orientation (swiveling angle) of the probe is measured and compared with a preset threshold value.

Features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may apply to a variety of inspection and testing techniques, including non-destructive testing (NDT) or inspection systems. In the NDT system, certain techniques such as borescopic inspection, weld inspection, remote visual inspections, x-ray inspection, ultrasonic inspection, eddy current inspection, and the like, may be used to analyze and detect a variety of conditions, including but not limited to corrosion, equipment wear and tear, cracking, leaks, and so on. The techniques described herein provide for improved NDT systems suitable for borescopic inspection, remote visual inspections, x-ray inspection, ultrasonic inspection, and/or eddy current inspection, enabling enhanced data gathering, data analysis, inspection/testing processes, and NDT collaboration techniques.

The improved NDT systems described herein may include inspection equipment using wireless conduits suitable for communicatively coupling the inspection equipment to mobile devices, such as tablets, smart phones, and augmented reality eyeglasses; to computing devices, such as notebooks, laptops, workstations, personal computers; and to "cloud" computing systems, such as cloud-based NDT ecosystems, cloud analytics, cloud-based collaboration and workflow systems, distributed computing systems, expert systems and/or knowledge-based systems. Indeed, the techniques described herein may provide for enhanced NDT data gathering, analysis, and data distribution, thus improving the detection of undesired conditions, enhancing maintenance activities, and increasing returns on investment (ROI) of facilities and equipment.

In one embodiment, a tablet may be communicatively coupled to the NDT inspection device (e.g., borescope, transportable pan-tilt-zoom camera, eddy current device, x-ray inspection device, ultrasonic inspection device), such as a MENTOR™ NDT inspection device, available from General Electric, Co. , of Schenectady, New York, and used to provide, for example, enhanced wireless display capabilities, remote control, data analytics and/or data communications to the NDT inspection device. While other mobile devices may be used, the use of the tablet is apt, however, insofar as the tablet may provide for a larger, higher resolution display, more powerful processing cores, an increased memory, and improved battery life. Accordingly, the tablet may address certain issues, such as providing for improved visualization of data, improving the manipulatory control of the inspection device, and extending collaborative sharing to a plurality of external systems and entities.

Keeping the foregoing in mind, the present disclosure is directed towards obtaining motion data from an NDT probe of the NDT system, and using the motion data to filter the sensor data from the NDT probe. Generally, sensor data obtained from moving the sensor with a steady speed and desired orientation provides consistent inspection results. Obtaining motion data of the NDT probe enables the NDT system to provide feedback to the probe operator to adjust the motion of the NDT probe, and enables the NDT system to filter out some sensor data from inclusion in a recorded data set.

By way of introduction, and turning now to <FIG>, the figure is a block diagram of an embodiment of distributed NDT system <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the distributed NDT system <NUM> includes one or more NDT inspection devices <NUM>. The NDT inspection devices <NUM> may be divided into at least two categories. In one category, depicted in <FIG>, the NDT inspection devices <NUM> may include devices suitable for visually inspecting a variety of equipment and environments. In another category, described in more detail with respect to <FIG> below, the NDT devices <NUM> may include devices providing for alternatives to visual inspection modalities, such as x-ray inspection modalities, eddy current inspection modalities, and/or ultrasonic inspection modalities.

In the depicted first example category of <FIG>, the NDT inspection devices <NUM> may include a borescope <NUM> having one or more processors <NUM> and a memory <NUM>, and a transportable pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera <NUM> having one or more processors <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. In this first category of visual inspection devices, the borescope <NUM> and PTZ camera <NUM> may be used to inspect, for example, a turbo machinery <NUM>, and a facility or site <NUM>. As illustrated, the borescope <NUM> and the PTZ camera <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to a mobile device <NUM> also having one or more processors <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. The mobile device <NUM> may include, for example, a tablet, a cell phone (e.g., smart phone), a notebook, a laptop, or any other mobile computing device. The use of a tablet, however, is apt insofar as the tablet provides for a good balance between screen size, weight, computing power, and battery life. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the mobile device <NUM> may be the tablet mentioned above, that provides for touchscreen input. The mobile device <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the NDT inspection devices <NUM>, such as the borescope <NUM> and/or the PTZ camera <NUM>, through a variety of wireless or wired conduits. For example, the wireless conduits may include WiFi (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers [IEEE] <NUM>. 11X), cellular conduits (e.g., high speed packet access [HSPA], HSPA+, long term evolution [LTE], WiMax), near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth, personal area networks (PANs), and the like. The wireless conduits may use a variety of communication protocols, such as TCP/IP, UDP, SCTP, socket layers, and so on. In certain embodiments, the wireless or wired conduits may include secure layers, such as secure socket layers (SSL), virtual private network (VPN) layers, encrypted layers, challenge key authentication layers, token authentication layers, and so on. Wired conduits may include proprietary cabling, RJ45 cabling, co-axial cables, fiber optic cables, and so on.

Additionally or alternatively, the mobile device <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the NDT inspection devices <NUM>, such as the borescope <NUM> and/or the PTZ camera <NUM>, through the "cloud" <NUM>. Indeed, the mobile device <NUM> may use the cloud <NUM> computing and communications techniques (e.g., cloud-computing network), including but not limited to HTTP, HTTPS, TCP/IP, service oriented architecture (SOA) protocols (e.g., simple object access protocol [SOAP], web services description languages (WSDLs)) to interface with the NDT inspection devices <NUM> from any geographic location, including geographic locations remote from the physical location about to undergo inspection. Further, in one embodiment, the mobile device <NUM> may provide "hot spot" functionality in which mobile device <NUM> may provide wireless access point (WAP) functionality suitable for connecting the NDT inspection devices <NUM> to other systems in the cloud <NUM>, or connected to the cloud <NUM>, such as a computing system <NUM> (e.g., computer, laptop, virtual machine(s) [VM], desktop, workstation). Accordingly, collaboration may be enhanced by providing for multi-party workflows, data gathering, and data analysis.

For example, a borescope operator <NUM> may physically manipulate the borescope <NUM> at one location, while a mobile device operator <NUM> may use the mobile device <NUM> to interface with and physically manipulate the borescope <NUM> at a second location through remote control techniques. The second location may be proximate to the first location, or geographically distant from the first location. Likewise, a camera operator <NUM> may physically operate the PTZ camera <NUM> at a third location, and the mobile device operator <NUM> may remote control PTZ camera <NUM> at a fourth location by using the mobile device <NUM>. The fourth location may be proximate to the third location, or geographically distant from the third location. Any and all control actions performed by the operators <NUM> and <NUM> may be additionally performed by the operator <NUM> through the mobile device <NUM>. Additionally, the operator <NUM> may communicate with the operators <NUM> and/or <NUM> by using the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> through techniques such as voice over IP (VOIP), virtual whiteboarding, text messages, and the like. By providing for remote collaboration techniques between the operator <NUM> operator <NUM>, and operator <NUM>, the techniques described herein may provide for enhanced workflows and increase resource efficiencies. Indeed, nondestructive testing processes may leverage the communicative coupling of the cloud <NUM> with the mobile device <NUM>, the NDT inspection devices <NUM>, and external systems coupled to the cloud <NUM>.

In one mode of operation, the mobile device <NUM> may be operated by the borescope operator <NUM> and/or the camera operator <NUM> to leverage, for example, a larger screen display, more powerful data processing, as well as a variety of interface techniques provided by the mobile device <NUM>, as described in more detail below. Indeed, the mobile device <NUM> may be operated alongside or in tandem with the devices <NUM> and <NUM> by the respective operators <NUM> and <NUM>. This enhanced flexibility provides for better utilization of resources, including human resources, and improved inspection results.

Whether controlled by the operator <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>, the borescope <NUM> and/or PTZ camera <NUM> may be used to visually inspect a wide variety of equipment and facilities. For example, the borescope <NUM> may be inserted into a plurality of borescope ports and other locations of the turbomachinery <NUM>, to provide for illumination and visual observations of a number of components of the turbomachinery <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the turbo machinery <NUM> is illustrated as a gas turbine suitable for converting carbonaceous fuel into mechanical power. However, other equipment types may be inspected, including compressors, pumps, turbo expanders, wind turbines, hydroturbines, industrial equipment, and/or residential equipment. The turbomachinery <NUM> (e.g., gas turbine) may include a variety of components that may be inspected by the NDT inspection devices <NUM> described herein.

With the foregoing in mind, it may be beneficial to discuss certain turbomachinery <NUM> components that may be inspected by using the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, certain components of the turbomachinery <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, may be inspected for corrosion, erosion, cracking, leaks, weld inspection, and so on. Mechanical systems, such as the turbomachinery <NUM>, experience mechanical and thermal stresses during operating conditions, which may require periodic inspection of certain components. During operations of the turbomachinery <NUM>, a fuel such as natural gas or syngas, may be routed to the turbomachinery <NUM> through one or more fuel nozzles <NUM> into a combustor <NUM>. Air may enter the turbomachinery <NUM> through an air intake section <NUM> and may be compressed by a compressor <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> may include a series of stages <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> that compress the air. Each stage may include one or more sets of stationary vanes <NUM> and blades <NUM> that rotate to progressively increase the pressure to provide compressed air. The blades <NUM> may be attached to rotating wheels <NUM> connected to a shaft <NUM>. The compressed discharge air from the compressor <NUM> may exit the compressor <NUM> through a diffuser section <NUM> and may be directed into the combustor <NUM> to mix with the fuel. For example, the fuel nozzles <NUM> may inject a fuel-air mixture into the combustor <NUM> in a suitable ratio for optimal combustion, emissions, fuel consumption, and power output. In certain embodiments, the turbomachinery <NUM> may include multiple combustors <NUM> disposed in an annular arrangement. Each combustor <NUM> may direct hot combustion gases into a turbine <NUM>.

As depicted, the turbine <NUM> includes three separate stages <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> surrounded by a casing <NUM>. Each stage <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> includes a set of blades or buckets <NUM> coupled to a respective rotor wheel <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, which are attached to a shaft <NUM>. As the hot combustion gases cause rotation of turbine blades <NUM>, the shaft <NUM> rotates to drive the compressor <NUM> and any other suitable load, such as an electrical generator. Eventually, the turbomachinery <NUM> diffuses and exhausts the combustion gases through an exhaust section <NUM>. Turbine components, such as the nozzles <NUM>, intake <NUM>, compressor <NUM>, vanes <NUM>, blades <NUM>, wheels <NUM>, shaft <NUM>, diffuser <NUM>, stages <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, blades <NUM>, shaft <NUM>, casing <NUM>, and exhaust <NUM>, may use the disclosed embodiments, such as the NDT inspection devices <NUM>, to inspect and maintain said components.

Additionally, or alternatively, the PTZ camera <NUM> may be disposed at various locations around or inside of the turbo machinery <NUM>, and used to procure visual observations of these locations. The PTZ camera <NUM> may additionally include one or more lights suitable for illuminating desired locations, and may further include zoom, pan and tilt techniques described in more detail below with respect to <FIG>, useful for deriving observations around in a variety of difficult to reach areas. The borescope <NUM> and/or the camera <NUM> may be additionally used to inspect the facilities <NUM>, such as an oil and gas facility <NUM>. Various equipment such as oil and gas equipment <NUM>, may be inspected visually by using the borescope <NUM> and/or the PTZ camera <NUM>. Advantageously, locations such as the interior of pipes or conduits <NUM>, underwater (or underfluid) locations <NUM> , and difficult to observe locations such as locations having curves or bends <NUM>, may be visually inspected by using the mobile device <NUM> through the borescope <NUM> and/or PTZ camera <NUM>. Accordingly, the mobile device operator <NUM> may more safely and efficiently inspect the equipment <NUM>, <NUM> and locations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and share observations in real-time or near real-time with location geographically distant from the inspection areas. It is to be understood that other NDT inspection devices <NUM> may be use the embodiments described herein, such as fiberscopes (e.g., articulating fiberscope, non-articulating fiberscope), and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), including robotic pipe inspectors and robotic crawlers.

Turning now to <FIG>, the figure is a block diagram of an embodiment of the distributed NDT system <NUM> depicting the second category of NDT inspection devices <NUM> that may be able to provide for alternative inspection data to visual inspection data. For example, the second category of NDT inspection devices <NUM> may include an eddy current inspection device <NUM>, an ultrasonic inspection device, such as an ultrasonic flaw detector <NUM>, and an x-ray inspection device, such a digital radiography device <NUM>. The eddy current inspection device <NUM> may include one or more processors <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. Likewise, the ultrasonic flaw detector <NUM> may include one or more processors <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. Similarly, the digital radiography device <NUM> may include one or more processors <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. In operations, the eddy current inspection device <NUM> may be operated by an eddy current operator <NUM>, the ultrasonic flaw detector <NUM> may be operated by an ultrasonic device operator <NUM>, and the digital radiography device <NUM> may be operated by a radiography operator <NUM>.

As depicted, the eddy current inspection device <NUM>, the ultrasonic flaw detector <NUM>, and the digital radiography inspection device <NUM>, may be communicatively coupled to the mobile device <NUM> by using wired or wireless conduits, including the conduits mentioned above with respect to <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be coupled to the mobile device <NUM> by using the cloud <NUM>, for example the borescope <NUM> may be connected to a cellular "hotspot," and use the hotspot to connect to one or more experts in borescopic inspection and analsysis. Accordingly, the mobile device operator <NUM> may remotely control various aspects of operations of the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> by using the mobile device <NUM>, and may collaborate with the operators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> through voice (e.g., voice over IP [VOIP]), data sharing (e.g., whiteboarding), providing data analytics, expert support and the like, as described in more detail herein.

Accordingly, it may be possible to enhance the visual observation of various equipment, such as an aircraft system <NUM> and facilities <NUM>, with x-ray observation modalities, ultrasonic observation modalities, and/or eddy current observation modalities. For example, the interior and the walls of pipes <NUM> may be inspected for corrosion and/or erosion. Likewise, obstructions or undesired growth inside of the pipes <NUM> may be detected by using the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. Similarly, fissures or cracks <NUM> disposed inside of certain ferrous or non-ferrous material <NUM> may be observed. Additionally, the disposition and viability of parts <NUM> inserted inside of a component <NUM> may be verified. Indeed, by using the techniques described herein, improved inspection of equipment and components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be provided. For example, the mobile device <NUM> may be used to interface with and provide remote control of the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

<FIG> is a front view of the borescope <NUM> coupled to the mobile device <NUM> and the cloud <NUM>. Accordingly, the boresecope <NUM> may provide data to any number of devices connected to the cloud <NUM> or inside the cloud <NUM>. As mentioned above, the mobile device <NUM> may be used to receive data from the borescope <NUM>, to remote control the borescope <NUM>, or a combination thereof. Indeed, the techniques described herein enable, for example, the communication of a variety of data from the borescope <NUM> to the mobile device <NUM>, including but not limited to images, video, and sensor measurements, such as temperature, pressure, flow, clearance (e.g., measurement between a stationary component and a rotary component), and distance measurements. Likewise, the mobile device <NUM> may communicate control instructions, reprogramming instructions, configuration instructions, and the like, as described in more detail below.

As depicted the borescope <NUM>, includes an insertion tube <NUM> suitable for insertion into a variety of location, such as inside of the turbomachinery <NUM>, equipment <NUM>, pipes or conduits <NUM>, underwater locations <NUM>, curves or bends <NUM>, varies locations inside or outside of the aircraft system <NUM>, the interior of pipe <NUM>, and so on. The insertion tube <NUM> may include a head end section <NUM>, an articulating section <NUM>, and a conduit section <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the head end section <NUM> may include a camera <NUM>, one or more lights <NUM> (e.g., LEDs), and sensors <NUM>. As mentioned above, the borescope's camera <NUM> may provide images and video suitable for inspection. The lights <NUM> may be used to provide for illumination when the head end <NUM> is disposed in locations having low light or no light.

During use, the articulating section <NUM> may be controlled, for example, by the mobile device <NUM> and/or a physical joy stick <NUM> disposed on the borescope <NUM>. The articulating sections <NUM> may steer or "bend" in various dimensions. For example, the articulation section <NUM> may enable movement of the head end <NUM> in an X-Y plane X-Z plane and/or Y-Z plane of the depicted XYZ axes <NUM>. Indeed, the physical joystick <NUM> and/or the mobile device <NUM> may both be used alone or in combination, to provide control actions suitable for disposing the head end <NUM> at a variety of angles, such as the depicted angle α. In this manner, the borescope head end <NUM> may be positioned to visually inspect desired locations. The camera <NUM> may then capture, for example, a video <NUM>, which may be displayed in a screen <NUM> of the borescope <NUM> and a screen <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM>, and may be recorded by the borescope <NUM> and/or the mobile device <NUM>. In one embodiment, the screens <NUM> and <NUM> may be multi-touchscreens using capacitance techniques, resistive techniques, infrared grid techniques, and the like, to detect the touch of a stylus and/or one or more human fingers. Additionally or alternatively, images and the video <NUM> may be transmitted into the cloud <NUM>.

Other data, including but not limited to sensor <NUM> data, may additionally be communicated and/or recorded by the borescope <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> data may include temperature data, distance data, clearance data (e.g., distance between a rotating and a stationary component), flow data, and so on. In certain embodiments, the borescope <NUM> may include a plurality of replacement tips <NUM>. For example, the replacement tips <NUM> may include retrieval tips such as snares, magnetic tips, gripper tips, and the like. The replacement tips <NUM> may additionally include cleaning and obstruction removal tools, such as wire brushes, wire cutters, and the like. The tips <NUM> may additionally include tips having differing optical characteristics, such as focal length, stereoscopic views, <NUM>-dimensional (3D) phase views, shadow views, and so on. Additionally or alternatively, the head end <NUM> may include a removable and replaceable head end <NUM>. Accordingly, a plurality of head ends <NUM> may be provided at a variety of diameters, and the insertion tube <NUM> maybe disposed in a number of locations having openings from approximately one millimeter to ten millimeters or more. Indeed, a wide variety of equipment and facilities may be inspected, and the data may be shared through the mobile device <NUM> and/or the cloud <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an embodiment of the transportable PTZ camera <NUM> communicatively coupled to the mobile device <NUM> and to the cloud <NUM>. As mentioned above, the mobile device <NUM> and/or the cloud <NUM> may remotely manipulate the PTZ camera <NUM> to position the PTZ camera <NUM> to view desired equipment and locations. In the depicted example, the PTZ camera <NUM> may be tilted and rotated about the Y-axis. For example, the PTZ camera <NUM> may be rotated at an angle β between approximately <NUM>° to <NUM>°, <NUM>° to <NUM>°, <NUM>° to <NUM>°, or more about the Y-axis. Likewise, the PTZ camera <NUM> may be tilted, for example, about the Y-X plane at an angle γ of approximately <NUM>° to <NUM>°, <NUM>° to <NUM>°, <NUM>° to <NUM>°, or more with respect to the Y-Axis. Lights <NUM> may be similarly controlled, for example, to active or deactivate, and to increase or decrease a level of illumination (e.g., lux) to a desired value. Sensors <NUM>, such as a laser rangefinder, may also be mounted onto the PTZ camera <NUM>, suitable for measuring distance to certain objects. Other sensors <NUM> may be used, including long-range temperature sensors (e.g., infrared temperature sensors), pressure sensors, flow sensors, clearance sensors, and so on.

The PTZ camera <NUM> may be transported to a desired location, for example, by using a shaft <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> enables the camera operator <NUM> to move the camera and to position the camera, for example, inside of locations <NUM>, <NUM>, underwater <NUM>, into hazardous (e.g., hazmat) locations, and so on. Additionally, the shaft <NUM> may be used to more permanently secure the PTZ camera <NUM> by mounting the shaft <NUM> onto a permanent or semi-permanent mount. In this manner, the PTZ camera <NUM> may be transported and/or secured at a desired location. The PTZ camera <NUM> may then transmit, for example by using wireless techniques, image data, video data, sensor <NUM> data, and the like, to the mobile device <NUM> and/or cloud <NUM>. Accordingly, data received from the PTZ camera <NUM> may be remotely analyzed and used to determine the condition and suitability of operations for desired equipment and facilities. Indeed, the techniques described herein may provide for a comprehensive inspection and maintenance process suitable for planning, inspecting, analyzing, and/or sharing a variety of data by using the aforementioned devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the cloud <NUM>, as described in more detail below with respect to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process <NUM> suitable for planning, inspecting, analyzing, and/or sharing a variety of data by using the aforementioned devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the cloud <NUM>. Indeed, the techniques described herein may use the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to enable processes, such as the depicted process <NUM>, to more efficiently support and maintain a variety of equipment. In certain embodiments, the process <NUM> or portions of the process <NUM> may be included in non-transitory computer-readable media stored in memory, such as the memory <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and executable by one or more processors, such as the processors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

In one example, the process <NUM> may plan (block <NUM>) for inspection and maintenance activities. Data acquired by using the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, an others, such as fleet data acquired from a fleet of turbomachinery <NUM>, from equipment users (e.g., aircraft <NUM> service companies), and/or equipment manufacturers, may be used to plan (block <NUM>) maintenance and inspection activities, more efficient inspection schedules for machinery, flag certain areas for a more detailed inspection, and so on. The process <NUM> may then enable the use of a single mode or a multi-modal inspection (block <NUM>) of desired facilities and equipment (e.g., turbomachinery <NUM>). As mentioned above, the inspection (block <NUM>) may use any one or more of the NDT inspection devices <NUM> (e.g., borescope <NUM>, PTZ camera <NUM>, eddy current inspection device <NUM>, ultrasonic flaw detector <NUM>, digital radiography device <NUM>), thus providing with one or more modes of inspection (e.g., visual, ultrasonic, eddy current, x-ray). In the depicted embodiment, the mobile device <NUM> may be used to remote control the NDT inspection devices <NUM>, to analyze data communicated by the NDT inspection devices <NUM>, to provide for additional functionality not included in the NDT inspection devices <NUM> as described in more detail herein, to record data from the NDT inspection devices <NUM>, and to guide the inspection (block <NUM>), for example, by using menu-driven inspection (MDI) techniques, among others.

Results of the inspection (block <NUM>), may then be analyzed (block <NUM>), for example, by using the NDT device <NUM>, by transmitting inspection data to the cloud <NUM>, by using the mobile device <NUM>, or a combination thereof. The analysis may include engineering analysis useful in determining remaining life for the facilities and/or equipment, wear and tear, corrosion, erosion, and so forth. The analysis may additionally include operations research (OR) analysis used to provide for more efficient parts replacement schedules, maintenance schedules, equipment utilization schedules, personnel usage schedules, new inspection schedules, and so on. The analysis (block <NUM>) may then be reported (block <NUM>), resulting in one or more reports <NUM>, including reports created in or by using the cloud <NUM>, detailing the inspection and analysis performed and results obtained. The reports <NUM> may then be shared (block <NUM>), for example, by using the cloud <NUM>, the mobile device <NUM>, and other techniques, such as workflow sharing techniques. In one embodiment, the process <NUM> may be iterative, thus, the process <NUM> may iterate back to planning (block <NUM>) after the sharing (block <NUM>) of the reports <NUM>. By providing for embodiments useful in using the devices (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) described herein to plan, inspect, analyze, report, and share data, the techniques described herein may enable a more efficient inspection and maintenance of the facilities <NUM>, <NUM> and the equipment <NUM>, <NUM>. Indeed, the transfer of multiple categories of data may be provided, as described in more detail below with respect to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a data flow diagram depicting an embodiment of the flow of various data categories originating from the NDT inspection devices <NUM> (e.g., devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and transmitted to the mobile device <NUM> and/or the cloud <NUM>. As mentioned above, the NDT inspection devices <NUM> may use a wireless conduit <NUM> to transmit the data. In one embodiment, the wireless conduit <NUM> may include WiFi (e.g., <NUM>. 11X), cellular conduits (e.g., HSPA, HSPA+, LTE, WiMax), NFC, Bluetooth, PANs, and the like. The wireless conduit <NUM> may use a variety of communication protocols, such as TCP/IP, UDP, SCTP, socket layers, and so on. In certain embodiments, the wireless conduit <NUM> may include secure layers, such as SSL, VPN layers, encrypted layers, challenge key authentication layers, token authentication layers, and so on. Accordingly, an authorization data <NUM> may be used to provide any number of authorization or login information suitable to pair or otherwise authenticate the NDT inspection device <NUM> to the mobile device <NUM> and/or the cloud <NUM>. Additionally, the wireless conduit <NUM> may dynamically compress data, depending on, for example, currently available bandwidth and latency. The mobile device <NUM> may then uncompress and display the data. Compression/decompression techniques may include H. <NUM>, moving picture experts group (MPEG), MPEG -<NUM>, MPEG -<NUM>, MPEG -<NUM>, MPEG -<NUM>, DivX, and so on.

In certain modalities (e.g., visual modalities), images and video may be communicated by using certain of the NDT inspection devices <NUM>. Other modalities may also send video, sensor data, and so on, related to or included in their respective screens. The NDT inspection device <NUM> may, in addition to capturing images, overlay certain data onto the image, resulting in a more informative view. For example, a borescope tip map may be overlaid on the video, showing an approximation of the disposition of a borescope tip during insertion so as to guide the operator <NUM> to more accurately position the borescope camera <NUM>. The overlay tip map may include a grid having four quadrants, and the tip <NUM> disposition may be displayed as dot in any portion or position inside of the four quadrants. A variety of overlays may be provided, as described in more detail below, including measurement overlays, menu overlays, annotation overlays, and object identification overlays. The image and video data, such as the video <NUM>, may then be displayed, with the overlays generally displayed on top of the image and video data.

In one embodiment, the overlays, image, and video data may be "screen scraped" from the screen <NUM> and communicated as screen scrapping data <NUM>. The screen scrapping data <NUM> may then be displayed on the mobile device <NUM> and other display devices communicatively coupled to the cloud <NUM>. Advantageously, the screen scrapping data <NUM> may be more easily displayed. Indeed, because pixels may include both the image or video and overlays in the same frame, the mobile device <NUM> may simply display the aforementioned pixels. However, providing the screen scraping data may merge both the images with the overlays, and it may be beneficial to separate the two (or more) data streams. For example, the separate data streams (e.g., image or video stream, overlay stream) may be transmitted approximately simultaneously, thus providing for faster data communications. Additionally, the data streams may be analyzed separately, thus improving data inspection and analysis.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the image data and overlays may be separated into two or more data streams <NUM> and <NUM>. The data stream <NUM> may include only overlays, while the data stream <NUM> may include images or video. In one embodiment, the images or video <NUM> may be synchronized with the overlays <NUM> by using a synchronization signal <NUM>. For example, the synchronization signal may include timing data suitable to match a frame of the data stream <NUM> with one or more data items included in the overlay stream <NUM>. In yet another embodiment, no synchronization data <NUM> data may be used. Instead, each frame or image <NUM> may include a unique ID, and this unique ID may be matched to one or more of the overlay data <NUM> and used to display the overlay data <NUM> and the image data <NUM> together.

The overlay data <NUM> may include a tip map overlay. For example, a grid having four squares (e.g., quadrant grid) may be displayed, along with a dot or circle representing a tip <NUM> position. This tip map may thus represent how the tip <NUM> is being inserted inside of an object. A first quadrant (top right) may represent the tip <NUM> being inserted into a top right corner looking down axially into the object, a second quadrant (top left) may represent the tip <NUM> being inserted into a left right corner looking down axially, a third quadrant (bottom left) may represent the tip <NUM> being inserted into a bottom left corner, and a fourth quadrant (bottom right) may represent the tip <NUM> being inserted into a bottom right corner. Accordingly, the borescope operator <NUM> may more easily guide insertion of the tip <NUM>.

The overlay data <NUM> may also include measurement overlays. For example, measurement such as length, point to line, depth, area, multi-segment line, distance, skew, and circle gauge may be provided by enabling the user to overlay one or more cursor crosses (e.g., "+") on top of an image. In one embodiment a stereo probe measurement tip <NUM>, or a shadow probe measurement tip <NUM> may be provided, suitable for measurements inside of objects, including stereoscopic measurements and/or by projecting a shadow onto an object. By placing a plurality of cursor icons (e.g., cursor crosses) over an image, the measurements may be derived using stereoscopic techniques. For example, placing two cursors icons may provide for a linear point-to-point measurement (e.g., length). Placing three cursor icons may provide for a perpendicular distance from a point to a line (e.g., point to line). Placing four cursor icons may provide for a perpendicular distance between a surface (derived by using three cursors) and a point (the fourth cursor) above or below the surface (e.g., depth). Placing three or more cursors around a feature or defect may then give an approximate area of the surface contained inside the cursors. Placing three or more cursors may also enable a length of a multi-segment line following each cursor.

Likewise, by projecting a shadow, the measurements may be derived based on illumination and resulting shadows. Accordingly, by positioning the shadow across the measurement area, then placing two cursors as close as possible to the shadow at furthermost points of a desired measurement may result in the derivation of the distance between the points. Placing the shadow across the measurement area, and then placing cursors at edges (e.g., illuminated edges) of the desired measurement area approximately to the center of a horizontal shadow may result in a skew measurement, otherwise defined as a linear (point-to-point) measurement on a surface that is not perpendicular to the probe <NUM> view. This may be useful when a vertical shadow is not obtainable.

Similarly, positioning a shadow across the measurement area, and then placing one cursor on a raised surface and a second cursor on a recessed surface may result in the derivation of depth, or a distance between a surface and a point above or below the surface. Positioning the shadow near the measurement area, and then placing a circle (e.g., circle cursor of user selectable diameter, also referred to as circle gauge) close to the shadow and over a defect may then derive the approximate diameter, circumference, and/or area of the defect.

Overlay data <NUM> may also include annotation data. For example, text and graphics (e.g. arrow pointers, crosses, geometric shapes) may be overlaid on top of an image to annotate certain features, such as "surface crack. " Additionally, audio may be captured by the NDT inspection device <NUM>, and provided as an audio overlay. For example, a voice annotation, sounds of the equipment undergoing inspection, and so on, may be overlaid on an image or video as audio. The overlay data <NUM> received by the mobile device <NUM> and/or cloud <NUM> may then be rendered by a variety of techniques. For example, HTML5 or other markup languages may be used to display the overlay data <NUM>. In one embodiment, the mobile device <NUM> and/or cloud <NUM> may provide for a first user interface different from a second user interface provided by the NDT device <NUM>. Accordingly, the overlay data <NUM> may be simplified and only send basic information. For example, in the case of the tip map, the overlay data <NUM> may simply include X and Y data correlative to the location of the tip, and the first user interface may then use the X and Y data to visually display the tip on a grid.

Additionally sensor data <NUM> may be communicated. For example, data from the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, and x-ray sensor data, eddy current sensor data, and the like may be communicated. In certain embodiments, the sensor data <NUM> may be synchronized with the overlay data <NUM>, for example, overlay tip maps may be displayed alongside with temperature information, pressure information, flow information, clearance, and so on. Likewise, the sensor data <NUM> may be displayed alongside the image or video data <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, force feedback or haptic feedback data <NUM> may be communicated. The force feedback data <NUM> may include, for example, data related to the borescope <NUM> tip <NUM> abutting or contacting against a structure, vibrations felt by the tip <NUM> or vibration sensors <NUM>, force related to flows, temperatures, clearances, pressures, and the like. The mobile device <NUM> may include, for example, a tactile layer having fluid-filled microchannels, which, based on the force feedback data <NUM>, may alter fluid pressure and/or redirect fluid in response. Indeed, the techniques describe herein, may provide for responses actuated by the mobile device <NUM> suitable for representing sensor data <NUM> and other data in the conduit <NUM> as tactile forces.

The NDT devices <NUM> may additionally communicate position data <NUM>. For example, the position data <NUM> may include locations of the NDT devices <NUM> in relation to equipment <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or facilities <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, techniques such as indoor GPS, RFID, triangulation (e.g., WiFi triangulation, radio triangulation) may be used to determine the position <NUM> of the devices <NUM>. Object data <NUM> may include data related to the object under inspection. For example, the object data <NUM> may include identifying information (e.g., serial numbers), observations on equipment condition, annotations (textual annotations, voice annotations), and so on. Other types of data <NUM> may be used, including but not limited to menu-driven inspection data, which when used, provides a set of pre-defined "tags" that can be applied as text annotations and metadata. These tags may include location information (e.g., <NUM>st stage HP compressor) or indications (e.g., foreign object damage) related to the object undergoing inspection. Other data <NUM> may additionally include remote file system data, in which the mobile device <NUM> may view and manipulate files and file constructs (e.g., folders, subfolders) of data located in the memory <NUM> of the NDT inspection device <NUM>. Accordingly, files may be transferred to the mobile device <NUM> and cloud <NUM>, edited and transferred back into the memory <NUM>. By communicating the data <NUM>-<NUM> to the mobile device <NUM> and the cloud <NUM>, the techniques described herein may enable a faster and more efficient process <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an embodiment of an NDT probe <NUM> of the distributed NDT system <NUM>. The NDT probe <NUM> may include one or more testing sensors <NUM> associated with the second category of NDT inspection devices <NUM> (e.g., eddy current inspection device <NUM>, ultrasonic flaw detector <NUM>, digital radiography device <NUM>). Accordingly, the one or more testing sensors <NUM> may include, but are not limited to eddy current sensors, ultrasonic sensors, x-ray sensors, magnetic field sensors, or light sensors. A probe operator <NUM> (e.g., eddy current operator <NUM>, ultrasonic device operator <NUM>, radiography operator <NUM>) moves the NDT probe <NUM> across an inspection area <NUM> of a workpiece <NUM>. The testing sensors <NUM> provide the sensor data <NUM> to the NDT inspection device <NUM>, the mobile device <NUM>, and/or the cloud <NUM> via a probe cable <NUM>. In some embodiments, the inspection area <NUM> is a weld, a joint, an area susceptible to high stress and/or fatigue, and so forth. The testing sensor <NUM> may be used to inspect the workpiece <NUM> for points of interest <NUM>, such as voids, fissures, cracks, corrosion, etc..

As shown in <FIG>, the inspection area <NUM> (e.g., weld) lies parallel to the Y-axis. Accordingly, the probe operator <NUM> moves the NDT probe <NUM> along the Y-axis, as shown by the arrow <NUM>, to obtain the sensor data <NUM>. Various spatial factors affect the sensor data <NUM>, including the direction and speed of the NDT probe <NUM> relative to the workpiece <NUM>, an orientation of the NDT probe <NUM> relative to the direction of motion <NUM>, an angle <NUM> of the NDT probe <NUM> relative to the workpiece <NUM>, and a distance <NUM> between the NDT probe <NUM> and the workpiece <NUM>. Additionally, non-spatial factors such as the materials of the workpiece <NUM> and inspection area <NUM>, the sampling frequency, and/or driving signals supplied to the testing sensor <NUM>, may affect the sensor data <NUM>. The NDT inspection device <NUM> may be calibrated to process and display sensor data <NUM> with spatial factors within defined spatial ranges. For example, the NDT inspection device <NUM> may be calibrated to display sensor data <NUM> obtained when the NDT probe <NUM> is moved between approximately <NUM> to <NUM>/s along the inspection area <NUM>. In some embodiments, the NDT inspection device <NUM> may be calibrated to display sensor data obtained when an angle <NUM> between a probe axis <NUM> of the NDT probe <NUM> and the X-axis is less than approximately <NUM> degrees, where the X-axis is perpendicular to the inspection area <NUM>.

Embodiments of the distributed NDT system <NUM> and the NDT probe <NUM> may enable the probe operator <NUM> to obtain consistent sensor data <NUM>. Features of the NDT probe <NUM> and/or feedback provided to the operator may increase NDT inspection productivity of the probe operator <NUM>, and may increase the probability of detection of points of interest <NUM> in the inspection area <NUM>. In some embodiments, the NDT probe <NUM> has an orientation feature <NUM> (e.g., arrow, ridge, groove) to enable the probe operator <NUM> to move the NDT probe <NUM> relative to the workpiece <NUM> repeatedly with substantially the same orientation. For example, <FIG> illustrates the orientation feature <NUM> on a surface <NUM> of the NDT probe <NUM> along the probe axis <NUM>. In some embodiments, the probe operator <NUM> may align the orientation feature <NUM> parallel or perpendicular with the direction of motion <NUM>. In this way, the orientation feature <NUM> may enable the probe operator <NUM> to maintain a consistent orientation of the NDT probe <NUM> about the X-axis over multiple NDT inspections.

In some embodiments, a spacer <NUM> (e.g., wheel, wedge, bumper, ridge) may interface with the workpiece <NUM> to enable the probe operator <NUM> to maintain a consistent distance <NUM> between the NDT probe <NUM> and the inspection area <NUM>. The orientation feature <NUM> and the spacer <NUM> may be passive components that may enable the probe operator <NUM> to obtain consistent NDT inspection results of the inspection area <NUM>.

One or more motion sensors <NUM> provide motion data of the NDT probe <NUM> to the distributed NDT system <NUM>. The one or more motion sensors <NUM> may transmit motion data along the probe cable <NUM> to a processor (e.g., mobile device processor <NUM>, NDT inspection device processor <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>). A motion sensor <NUM> may transmit motion data (e.g., position data <NUM>) to indicate changes in the position and/or orientation of the NDT probe <NUM> relative to the workpiece <NUM> or coordinate axes <NUM>. The one or more motion sensors <NUM> may include, but are not limited to, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a light sensor, a counter, e.g., coupled to the spacer <NUM> as it rotates, or any combination thereof. For example, a motion sensor <NUM> may be an inertial measurement unit (IMU) <NUM> with a gyroscope and an accelerometer. In some embodiments, the IMU <NUM> may include a magnetometer. The IMU <NUM> may transmit motion data corresponding to acceleration motion along and/or rotation about one or more of the coordinate axes <NUM>. In some embodiments, the one or more motion sensors <NUM> are integrated with the testing sensors <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may determine the speed of the NDT probe <NUM> from the sensor data <NUM>. The one or more motion sensors <NUM> may be arranged within the NDT probe <NUM> (e.g., along the probe axis <NUM>) and/or on the surface <NUM> of the NDT probe <NUM>.

The motion sensors <NUM> detect the movement of the NDT probe <NUM> in direction <NUM> along the inspection area <NUM>. The arrows <NUM> show different speeds at which the NDT probe <NUM> moves along the inspection area <NUM>. The lined arrow <NUM> indicates motion of the NDT probe <NUM> along a first region <NUM> of the inspection area <NUM> at a desired speed that is within a reference speed range (e.g., between approximately <NUM> to <NUM>/s). Accordingly, the NDT inspection device <NUM> may record the sensor data <NUM> obtained by the NDT probe <NUM> for the first region <NUM>. The solid arrow <NUM> indicates motion of the NDT probe <NUM> along a second region <NUM> of the inspection area <NUM> at a speed (e.g., <NUM>/s) that exceeds (i.e., is outside) the reference speed range. The dotted arrow <NUM> indicates motion of the NDT probe <NUM> along a third region <NUM> of the inspection area <NUM> at a speed (e.g., <NUM>/s) that is less than (i.e., is outside) the reference speed range. In some embodiments, the NDT inspection device <NUM> disregards the sensor data <NUM> from the second region <NUM> and the third region <NUM>. Alternatively, the NDT inspection device <NUM> records the sensor data <NUM> from the second region <NUM> and the third region <NUM> with an indicator to note that speed of the NDT probe <NUM> was outside the reference speed range.

The distributed NDT system <NUM> utilizes the motion data to provide feedback to the probe operator <NUM>. The feedback may notify the probe operator <NUM> of spatial factors that affect the sensor data <NUM>, such as the speed, the position, the angle <NUM>, the orientation of the NDT probe <NUM> relative to the workpiece <NUM>, and the spacing <NUM> of the NDT probe <NUM> from the workpiece <NUM>. Using the feedback, the probe operator <NUM> may adjust the NDT probe <NUM> on subsequent inspections to produce desirable sensor data <NUM> results, such as sensor data <NUM> that is obtained while the spatial factors are within one or more reference ranges. The feedback may enable the probe operator <NUM> to improve the quality and consistency of the sensor data <NUM> by adjusting the position, movement, and/or orientation of the NDT probe <NUM>. In some embodiments, the distributed NDT system <NUM> provides feedback while the probe operator <NUM> is performing the NDT inspection. In some embodiments, the distributed NDT system <NUM> provides feedback after an inspection period.

The distributed NDT system <NUM> may provide feedback to the probe operator <NUM> through the NDT probe <NUM>, the NDT inspection device <NUM> (e.g., display screen <NUM>), and/or the mobile device <NUM> (e.g., display screen <NUM>). In some embodiments, the NDT probe <NUM> provides haptic feedback to the probe operator <NUM> via a motor <NUM> offset from the probe axis <NUM> or other vibrating component. The NDT probe <NUM> may have a speaker <NUM> to provide audio feedback, or lights <NUM> (e.g., light emitting diodes) to provide visual feedback. A processor, such as the processor <NUM> in the NDT inspection device <NUM>, controls the feedback from the NDT probe <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may control the motor <NUM>, the speaker <NUM>, and/or the lights <NUM> to provide feedback when the motion data is outside one or more reference ranges. The reference ranges include, but are not limited to speed ranges (along the axes <NUM>), angle ranges (between the probe axis <NUM> and the X-axis), position ranges (relative to the workpiece <NUM>), and orientation ranges (about the axes <NUM>).

The reference ranges may be defined based at least in part on operator input, the category and type of NDT inspection device <NUM>, the workpiece <NUM> material, and properties (e.g., current, voltage, frequency, polarity) of electrical signals provided to the NDT probe <NUM>. For example, the reference speed range of an eddy current sensor <NUM> may be based at least in part on the conductivity of the workpiece <NUM>, the amperage of the current supplied to a sensing coil, and the frequency of the current supplied to the sensing coil. The probe operator <NUM> may load a defined set of reference ranges from a memory or input the bounds of the reference ranges into a user interface <NUM> based on experience or instructions. For example, the probe operator <NUM> may narrow the reference ranges after becoming familiar with how to obtain consistent inspection results. The user interface <NUM> may be accessed through the mobile device <NUM> and/or the NDT inspection device <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may vary the feedback to provide feedback regarding distinct reference ranges. For example, haptic and audio feedback may be provided regarding the speed of the NDT probe <NUM>, whereas visual feedback is provided regarding the angle <NUM> of the NDT probe <NUM>. The NDT probe <NUM> may vary the duration and/or the intensity of the feedback based at least in part on the degree to which the motion data is outside the one or more reference ranges. Moreover, in some embodiments, the NDT probe <NUM> provides feedback when the motion data is within a threshold of bounds of one or more reference ranges. For example, the light <NUM> may emit yellow light when the speed is within a threshold of approximately <NUM>% of the bounds of the speed reference range (e.g., less than approximately <NUM>/s, or greater than approximately <NUM>/s), and the light <NUM> may emit red light when the speed is outside the bounds of the speed reference range (e.g., less than approximately <NUM>/s, or greater than approximately <NUM>/s).

The distributed NDT system <NUM> may provide feedback to the probe operator <NUM> via one or more display screens <NUM>, <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an embodiment of a display screen <NUM>, <NUM> of the distributed NDT system <NUM> with a first graphical representation <NUM> of motion feedback and a second graphical representation <NUM> of the sensor data <NUM>. In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the first graphical representation <NUM> of the motion feedback <NUM> is displayed on a first portion <NUM> of the display screen <NUM>, and the second graphical representation <NUM> of the sensor data <NUM> is displayed on a second portion <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the first graphical representation <NUM> may be an overlay over the second graphical representation <NUM>.

A marker <NUM> in a position chart <NUM> shows the position of the NDT probe <NUM> along the Y-axis and the Z-axis as the NDT probe <NUM> moves in direction <NUM> along the inspection area <NUM>. Each of the five markers <NUM> on the position chart <NUM> show a sample time of the motion data over the inspection area <NUM>. The rate at which the marker <NUM> moves relative to the position chart <NUM> provides visual feedback on the speed of the NDT probe <NUM>. A first marker <NUM> shows that the NDT probe <NUM> is being moved within the spatial reference ranges. A second marker <NUM> shows the probe axis <NUM> outside a reference position range <NUM> along the Z-axis. A position flag <NUM> instructs the probe operator <NUM> to move NDT probe <NUM> back within the reference position range <NUM>. A third marker <NUM> is within the reference position range <NUM>, however a slow indicator <NUM> instructs the probe operator <NUM> to move the NDT probe <NUM> more quickly along the inspection area <NUM>. A fourth marker <NUM> with a fast indicator <NUM> instructs the probe operator <NUM> to move the NDT probe <NUM> more slowly along the inspection area <NUM>.

A fifth marker <NUM> with an angle indicator <NUM> shows that the probe axis <NUM> is near or outside the bounds of a reference angle range <NUM> as shown in an angle chart <NUM>. The angle chart <NUM> shows a graphical representation of the NDT probe <NUM> along the X-axis. The angle indictor <NUM> instructs the probe operator <NUM> to move the probe axis <NUM> within the reference angle range <NUM>. The display screen <NUM> may show some motion values <NUM> during the inspection period, such as the angle <NUM>, the speed, the inspected distance, and so forth. In some embodiments, the display screen <NUM> may have text <NUM> (e.g., OK, HIGH, LOW, etc.) that indicates whether a motion value is within or outside of the respective reference range.

As may be appreciated, embodiments of the first graphical representation <NUM> are not limited to the position chart <NUM>, angle chart <NUM>, marker <NUM>, indicators, and text shown in <FIG>. Various other indicators and charts may provide visual feedback to the probe operator <NUM> about the speed, position, and orientation of the NDT probe <NUM> relative to the workpiece <NUM>. In some embodiments, a guide marker <NUM> may move relative to the position chart <NUM> at a speed to instruct the probe operator <NUM> how to move the NDT probe <NUM>. Accordingly, the probe operator <NUM> moves the NDT probe <NUM> along the inspection area <NUM> at a speed within the reference speed range if the relative movement of the marker <NUM> on the position chart <NUM> approximately matches the relative movement of the guide marker <NUM>. Guided and/or interactive visual feedback may improve the consistency of sensor data <NUM> from different probe operators <NUM>, decrease training time of probe operators <NUM>, and/or increase the accuracy of NDT inspections in detecting points of interest <NUM> in the inspection area <NUM>.

The first graphical representation <NUM> is produced by one or more processors of the distributed NDT system <NUM>. The charts, indicators, and text are determined through the motion data, the reference ranges, or comparisons thereof. Probe data from the NDT probe <NUM> at sample times includes the sensor data <NUM> and motion data. Sensor data <NUM> obtained from the NDT probe <NUM> at sample times corresponding to motion data outside one or more reference ranges may be less valuable and/or less usable than sensor data <NUM> obtained from the NDT probe <NUM> at sample times corresponding to motion data within the one or more reference ranges. Accordingly, a filtering method <NUM> shown in <FIG> sorts the sensor data <NUM> based at least in part on motion data from corresponding sample times.

The filtering method <NUM> may use the NDT inspection device <NUM> (e.g., the second category of NDT inspection devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and/or a mobile device <NUM> to more efficiently support and maintain a variety of equipment. In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> or portions of the method <NUM> may be included in non-transitory computer-readable media stored in memory, such as the memory <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and executable by one or more processors, such as the processors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

In one example of the method <NUM>, a processor receives (block <NUM>) inspection settings. The inspection settings may be loaded from the memory <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or received via the user interface <NUM>. The inspection settings may include the category and type of NDT inspection device <NUM>, the workpiece <NUM> material, and properties (e.g., current, voltage, frequency, polarity) of electrical signals provided to the NDT probe <NUM>. The processor determines (block <NUM>) parameters of a filter to apply to the probe data based at least in part on the inspection settings. In some embodiments, the processor receives at least some of the bounds of reference ranges directly. The processor receives (block <NUM>) probe data that includes sensor data <NUM> and motion data for a sample time. In some embodiments, the processor receives (block <NUM>) the probe data for each sample time separately as it is obtained. In other embodiments, the processor receives (block <NUM>) the probe data for multiple sample times of an inspection period after the inspection period has passed.

Once the probe data is received, the processor applies (block <NUM>) the filter to the probe data to sort the sensor data <NUM> obtained from the NDT probe <NUM> while the NDT probe <NUM> was being moved along the inspection area <NUM> in a desired manner. That is, the sensor data <NUM> at sample times corresponding to motion data within the one or more reference ranges is separated from the sensor data <NUM> at sample times corresponding to motion data outside the one or more reference ranges. For example, the processor at block <NUM> filters out the sensor data <NUM> from sample times corresponding to when the NDT probe <NUM> was moved greater than approximately <NUM>/s, at an angle greater than approximately <NUM> degrees from the X-axis, or not over the inspection area <NUM>. The processor notifies (block <NUM>) the probe operator <NUM> of the filter results through haptic, audio, and/or visual feedback. The feedback may instruct the probe operator <NUM> to adjust the motion of the NDT probe <NUM> so that subsequent sensor data <NUM> is not filtered out. In some embodiments, the processor may disregard (block <NUM>) the filtered out sensor data <NUM> and record (block <NUM>) the sensor data <NUM> corresponding to motion data within the one or more reference ranges (e.g., not filtered out sensor data). Disregarding some of the sensor data <NUM> generates gaps in the sensor data <NUM> of the inspection area <NUM>. Accordingly, in some embodiments which do not fall under the scope of the appended claims, the processor marks the filtered out sensor data <NUM> with an indicator to note that the corresponding motion data is outside the one or more motion ranges, and records the sensor data for the inspection area <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A system comprising:
a non-destructive testing (NDT) system (<NUM>) comprising:
an NDT probe (<NUM>) comprising a testing sensor (<NUM>) and a motion sensor (<NUM>) comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a counter, a magnetometer or any combination thereof, wherein the testing sensor (<NUM>) is configured to capture sensor data (<NUM>) as the NDT probe (<NUM>) moves along an axis lying parallel to an inspection area (<NUM>), and the motion sensor (<NUM>) is configured to detect a measurement speed at which the NDT probe (<NUM>) moves relative to the inspection area (<NUM>), wherein the motion sensor (<NUM>) is further configured to detect a measurement angle (<NUM>) of the NDT probe (<NUM>) relative to an axis perpendicular to the inspection area (<NUM>); and
a processor (<NUM>) configured to determine a speed comparison between the measurement speed and a reference speed range, and to determine an angle comparison between the measurement angle (<NUM>) and a reference angle range; and to provide feedback to an operator of the probe (<NUM>) when the measurement speed at the sample time is outside the reference speed range and/or the measurement angle at the sample time is outside the reference angle range, and recording the sensor data at the sample time only if both said measurement speed and measurement angle are within their respective reference ranges.