Automatic measurement of dimensional data with a laser tracker

1. A method for measuring with a system, the method comprising steps of:

providing the system including a collection of retroreflector targets and a laser tracker, the collection of retroreflector targets including at least three non-collinear retroreflector targets, the at least three non-collinear retroreflector targets including a first target, a second target, and a third target, the laser tracker in a first frame of reference fixed with respect to tracker surroundings, the laser tracker having a structure, a first light source, an absolute distance meter, a first angular transducer, a second angular transducer, a tracking system, a first camera, a second light source, and a processor, the structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, the first light source producing a first light beam that cooperates with the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer measuring a first angle of rotation about the first axis, the second angular transducer measuring a second angle of rotation about the second axis, the tracking system configured to move the first light beam to a center of any retroreflector target from among the collection of retroreflector targets, the first camera including a first lens system and a first photosensitive array, the second light source providing a second light beam, and the processor configured to operate the laser tracker;

storing a list of nominal coordinates for the first target, the second target, the third target, and at least one additional point, the nominal coordinates being three-dimensional coordinates in a second frame of reference;

capturing on the first photosensitive array a portion of the light emitted by the second light beam and reflected off the first target, the second target, and the third target;

obtaining spot positions on the photosensitive array from the portion of light reflected off each of the first target, second target, and the third target;

determining a correspondence between a first spot position, a second spot position, and a third spot position on the first photosensitive array and the nominal coordinates of the first target, the second target, and the third target, respectively;

directing the first beam of light to the first target based at least in part on the nominal coordinates of the first target and the first spot position;

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the first target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

directing the first beam of light to the second target based at least in part on the nominal coordinates of the second target and the second spot position;

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the second target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

directing the first beam of light to the third target based at least in part on the nominal coordinates of the third target and the third spot position;

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the third target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

determining three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point in the first frame of reference based at least in part on the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the first target, the second target, the third target, and the nominal coordinates of the at least one additional point;

storing the determined three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point;

directing the first light beam to the at least one additional point;

placing a selected retroreflector target to intercept at least a portion of the first light beam, the selected retroreflector target selected from among any of the retroreflector targets in the collection of retroreflector targets;

directing the first light beam to a center of the selected retroreflector target; and

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the selected retroreflector target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

a step of measuring according to an inspection plan, wherein the step of measuring according to an inspection plan further includes a step of moving the first light beam to direct an operator to move the selected retroreflector target to measure according to the inspection plan.

2. A method for measuring with a system, the method comprising steps of:

providing the system including a collection of retroreflector targets and a laser tracker, the collection of retroreflector targets including at least three non-collinear retroreflector targets, the at least three non-collinear retroreflector targets including a first target, a second target, and a third target, the laser tracker in a first frame of reference fixed with respect to tracker surroundings, the laser tracker having a structure, a first light source, an absolute distance meter, a first angular transducer, a second angular transducer, a tracking system, a first camera, a second light source, and a processor, the structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, the first light source producing a first light beam that cooperates with the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer measuring a first angle of rotation about the first axis, the second angular transducer measuring a second angle of rotation about the second axis, the tracking system configured to move the first light beam to a center of any retroreflector target from among the collection of retroreflector targets, the first camera including a first lens system and a first photosensitive array, the second light source providing a second light beam, and the processor configured to operate the laser tracker;

storing a list of nominal coordinates for the first target, the second target, the third target, and at least one additional point, the nominal coordinates being three-dimensional coordinates in a second frame of reference;

capturing on the first photosensitive array a portion of the light emitted by the second light beam and reflected off the first target, the second target, and the third target;

obtaining spot positions on the photosensitive array from the portion of light reflected off each of the first target, second target, and the third target;

determining a correspondence between a first spot position, a second spot position, and a third spot position on the first photosensitive array and the nominal coordinates of the first target, the second target, and the third target, respectively;

directing the first beam of light to the first target based at least in part on the nominal coordinates of the first target and the first spot position;

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the first target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

directing the first beam of light to the second target based at least in cart on the nominal coordinates of the second target and the second spot position;

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the second target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

directing the first beam of light to the third target based at least in cart on the nominal coordinates of the third target and the third spot position;

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the third target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

determining three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point in the first frame of reference based at least in part on the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the first target, the second target, the third target, and the nominal coordinates of the at least one additional point;

storing the determined three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point;

directing the first light beam to the at least one additional point;

placing a selected retroreflector target to intercept at least a portion of the first light beam, the selected retroreflector target selected from among any of the retroreflector targets in the collection of retroreflector targets;

directing the first light beam to a center of the selected retroreflector target; and

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the selected retroreflector target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

a step of measuring according to an inspection plan, wherein the step of measuring according to an inspection plan further includes detecting when an operator has placed the retroreflector target in a wrong location and directing the operator to move the selected retroreflector target to a correct location, the laser tracker moving the first light beam to indicate to the operator the correct location of the selected retroreflector target.

3. A method for measuring with a system, the method comprising steps of:

providing the system including a collection of retroreflector targets and a laser tracker, the collection of retroreflector targets including at least three non-collinear retroreflector targets, the at least three non-collinear retroreflector targets including a first target, a second target, and a third target, the laser tracker in a first frame of reference fixed with respect to tracker surroundings, the laser tracker having a structure, a first light source, an absolute distance meter, a first angular transducer, a second angular transducer, a tracking system, a first camera, a second light source, and a processor, the structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, the first light source producing a first light beam that cooperates with the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer measuring a first angle of rotation about the first axis, the second angular transducer measuring a second angle of rotation about the second axis, the tracking system configured to move the first light beam to a center of any retroreflector target from among the collection of retroreflector targets, the first camera including a first lens system and a first photosensitive array, the second light source providing a second light beam, and the processor configured to operate the laser tracker;

storing a list of nominal coordinates for the first target, the second target, the third target, and at least one additional point, the nominal coordinates being three-dimensional coordinates in a second frame of reference;

capturing on the first photosensitive array a portion of the light emitted by the second light beam and reflected off the first target, the second target, and the third target;

obtaining spot positions on the photosensitive array from the portion of light reflected off each of the first target, second target, and the third target;

determining a correspondence between a first spot position, a second spot position, and a third spot position on the first photosensitive array and the nominal coordinates of the first target, the second target, and the third target, respectively;

directing the first beam of light to the first target based at least in part on the nominal coordinates of the first target and the first spot position;

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the first target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

directing the first beam of light to the second tar et based at least in part on the nominal coordinates of the second target and the second spot position;

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the second target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

directing the first beam of light to the third tar et based at least in part on the nominal coordinates of the third target and the third spot position;

measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the third target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;

determining three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point in the first frame of reference based at least in part on the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the first target, the second target, the third target, and the nominal coordinates of the at least one additional point; and

storing the determined three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point;

directing the first light beam to the at least one additional point; and

performing an assembly operation at a position of the first light beam.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of performing an assembly operation includes drilling a hole in the object at the position of the first light beam.