The two main categories of NASA applications are in support of in house R&D, and in the inspection of structures for NASA applications by NASA or its suppliers. NASA also builds and procures hardware for many missions. The NDEToolbox? as envisioned provides a way for NASA to gain control over the NDE data from different suppliers using tools from different NDE vendors. The supplier technology base can also be upgraded by providing them with NASA-specified/developed/controlled processing for NDE. The specific case of Remote NDE, as might occur with an astronaut on station using limited equipment and skills to obtain data, is addressed by developing the tools to work with this special data in fusion with known data on space structures.
TRI/Austin is close to getting approval from an OEM for use of our software to assist in the interpretation of ultrasonic NDE data during the manufacturing process. The additional capabilities that would be developed in support of this phase II project will broaden our ability to support composite space and aerospace structures through the life cycle. This opens up the possibility of selling into the Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MR&O) market in commercial and military aerospace. Approvals from an OEM will be a significant achievement that is unique to the NDEToolbox?.
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