System and method for coupling a component to a vehicle

US8552836B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Joshua Ryan Pollema · Saint Peters, US
• James V. Leonard · Holden, US
• Richard E. Meyer · Chicago, US
• John D. Musgraves, Jr. · Festus, US
• William J. Ebert · Kirkwood, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 20, 2008
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 9, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D3/12
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An alignment system for coupling a component to a vehicle includes at least one sensor target coupled to the component, and a controller assembly configured to transmit a signal towards the sensor target and receive a reflected signal from the sensor target, wherein the controller assembly is configured to output an orientation dataset for the component relative to the vehicle using the reflected signal. The system also includes a processing device communicatively coupled to the controller assembly, wherein the processing device is programmed to translate the orientation dataset and cause a set of component positioning signals based on the orientation dataset to be displayed at a user interface.