Wireless Tile Scanner
08.13.07
Joe Lavelle,
Project Manager, Wireless Scanner
NASA Ames Research Center
This is a 3-D scanning system that we use the measure the damage on the tiles on the Shuttle. The reason that we scan the tiles is so that we can get a really accurate measurement of the flaws, so that they can make a very good decision about whether to replace the tile or not. And also, it greatly improves the turnaround time of the maintenance on the Orbiter.
This instrument is automating the process of measuring the flaws in the tiles. Right now they're doing it manually. So this will greatly increase the accuracy, the resolution, the reliability and the archivability of the measurements.
The first generation of scanners that we delivered to Kennedy were wired, so there was a cable between the computer and the device. Recently, we’ve delivered some more machines that are actually wireless. So this really frees them up to be able to go around the Orbiter without the cable encumbering them.
This instrument is making the shuttle flights safer and we're very glad to be a part of that.
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