Patent ID: 7536271

Claim:
A computer-implemented method including program instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the program instructions operable for computer control of composite structure fabrication, said program instructions comprising at least one code segment configured for: receiving data representing at least a portion of a surface of a model of the structure in a nominal condition; measuring at least a portion of a surface of the structure at a plurality of areas along the surface, the measured portion corresponding to a portion of the surface of the model wherein said measuring is performed with the structure in a flexed condition; determining a difference in a first and a second direction between the measured portion of the structure surface at each of the plurality of areas and the portion of the surface of the model at areas in the model that correspond to the measured areas relative to one or more fixed points observable during the measurement; determining a difference in a third direction between the measured portion of the structure surface at each of the plurality of points and the portion of the surface of the model at points in the model that correspond to the measured points; transmitting to a morphing algorithm the determined differences in the first, second, and third directions; determining a position in the first, second, and third directions of a point on the structure in the flexed condition that corresponds to a respective point on the structure when the structure is placed in the nominal condition; and outputting the determined position.