Consultancy
Spin-out firm’s metrology solution aids aircraft design
Clients
Targett Aviation
Company
Phase Vision
Expertise
Spin-out company consultancy
Loughborough University spin-out company Phase Vision worked with Gloucestershire-based Targett Aviation, a specialist repair and maintenance centre for sports aircraft.
Built on research into optical metrology carried out at Loughborough University, Phase Vision is a pioneer in the development of full field white light 3D micro-metrology. It designs and manufactures one of the fastest, most accurate medium to large-volume 3D measurement solutions in the world.
Targett Aviation has recently moved into the field of single-seater, electrically powered aircraft designed for the fast-growing sport of air racing.
For this market, the company has designed the Rebel Electric Racer - a new aircraft with a wingspan of around 20 feet – creating a lifesize ‘proof of concept’ model to secure investment.
With this complete, the next phase was to gain an accurate representation of the entire aircraft for virtual testing and finite element analysis (FEA) on CAD to optimise the aerodynamic design of the final aircraft.
Targett Aviation contacted Phase Vision whose Quartz range of scanners is proven in the acquisition of millions of points to create a highly detailed point cloud in just a few seconds – even when contending with large and reflective surface areas. Phase Vision scanning experts visited Targett Aviation and scanned the entire aircraft within a few hours.
Roger Targett said: "We were highly impressed by the speed and accuracy of the measurements taken by the Phase Vision team. Without this equipment, there is no way such a detailed virtual representation would have been delivered within the required timeframe. We can now forge ahead with the virtual testing confident that what we are working on is a faithful reproduction of the 'proof of concept' model.''