Intelligent airfoil component surface inspection

1. An apparatus comprising:

a positioning system;

a surface indicator system structured to collect an indication data set from a surface of a component;

a surface indicator composition applied to the component and configured to emit an indication that can be sensed by the surface indication system;

an indication data processing system structured to create an output data set in response to the indication data set utilizing a fuzzy logic algorithm; and

a microprocessor structured to provide at least one surface variance in response to the indication data set and the output data set.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the positioning system further includes a manipulator structured to position the component in response to a positioning algorithm, and wherein the surface indicator composition can emit an electromagnetic signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the positioning algorithm further includes identifying the component with a component position database in response to the indication data set and a recognition source data set.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surface indicator composition is a Fluorescent Penetrant Indicator (FPI).

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the indication device further includes an indicator application system capable of applying the FPI to the surface of the component.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface variance includes a variance selected from a group consisting of inhomogeneities, microstructural discontinuities, inclusions, micro and macro porosity and combinations thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one surface variance further includes a pass/fail signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one surface variance further includes a variance report.

9. A method comprising:

applying a surface indicator material to a component;

utilizing a positioning algorithm to manipulate at least one piece of positioning equipment in response to the component;

directing an indication source to a surface of the component having the surface indicator material;

collecting an indication data set in response to directing the indication source to the surface of the component;

applying a fuzzy logic analysis in response to the indication data set, the fuzzy logic analysis capable of providing an output data set; and

providing at least one surface variance in response to the output data set.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the surface indicator material is configured for use in a fluorescent penetration process.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the fuzzy logic analysis includes an input collecting module, a processing module, a compiling module, and an output collecting module.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the input collecting module further includes collecting the indication data set.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the output collecting module further includes collecting the output data set.

14. The method of claim 9 , further including performing a part recognition method with a component position database in response to at least one of the indication data set, a light source data set, and a recognition source data set.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one piece of positioning equipment further includes a robotic manipulator structured to position the component in response to the component and the positioning algorithm.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one surface variance includes a variance selected from a group consisting of inhomogeneities, microstructural discontinuities, inclusions, micro-porosity, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one surface variance further includes a pass/fail signal.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one surface variance further includes a variance report.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a positioning system having a manipulator device structured to position a component in response to a positioning algorithm;

an indication system structured to collect an indication data set utilizing a fluorescent penetration process;

an indication data processing system utilizing a fuzzy logic algorithm capable of:

applying the indication data set as a set of input variables;

assigning a degree of intensity to the set of input variables;

determining an output data set; and

converting the output data set to a set of solutions; and

a microprocessor structured to provide at least one surface variance in response to the set of solutions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein providing the at least one surface variance further includes characterization of at least one surface anomaly.