Advancements in Aircraft Engine Inspection: A MEMS-Based 3D Measuring Borescope

Aircraft engines are regularly inspected with borescopes to detect faults at an early stage and maintain airworthiness. A critical part of this inspection process is accurately measuring any detected damage to determine whether it exceeds allowable limits. Current state-of-the-art borescope measurement techniques—primarily stereo camera systems and pattern projection—face significant challenges when engines lack sufficient surface features or when illumination is inadequate for reliable stereo matching. MEMS-based 3D scanners address these issues by focusing laser light onto a small spot, reducing dependency on surface texture and improving illumination. However, miniaturized MEMS-based scanner borescopes that can pass through standard engine inspection ports are not yet available. This work examines the essential steps to downsize MEMS 3D scanners for direct integration into borescope inspections, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of aircraft engine fault detection.