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Aerospace
Volume 12
Issue 5
10.3390/aerospace12050419
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

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

by
Jonathan Gail
1,2,
Felix Kruse
3,4,
Shanshan Gu-Stoppel
5,
Ole Schmedemann
3,*,
Günther Leder
6,
Wolfgang Reinert
5,
Lena Wysocki
5,
Nils Burmeister
5,
Lars Ratzmann
5,
Thorsten Giese
5,
Patrick Schütt
5,
Gundula Piechotta
5 and
Thorsten Schüppstuhl
3
1
Institute of Experimental Physics I, University of Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, 35392 Giessen, Germany
2
IT Concepts GmbH, Gewerbestraße 17, 35633 Lahnau, Germany
3
Institute of Aircraft Production Technology, Hamburg University of Technology, TUHH, Denickestr. 17, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
4
3D.aero GmbH, Billhorner Deich 96, 20539 Hamburg, Germany
5
Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology (ISIT), Fraunhoferstraße 1, 25524 Itzehoe, Germany
6
Leder Elektronik Design GmbH, Krügerstr. 5, 68219 Mannheim, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Aerospace 2025, 12(5), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12050419
Submission received: 21 February 2025 / Revised: 25 April 2025 / Accepted: 30 April 2025 / Published: 8 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Topic Structural Health Monitoring and Non-Destructive Testing for Large-Scale Structures (2nd Edition))
Versions Notes

Abstract

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.
Keywords: aircraft engine inspection; aero engine; non-destructive testing (NDT); borescope; MEMS mirror; MEMS scanner; LiDAR; 3D measurement aircraft engine inspection; aero engine; non-destructive testing (NDT); borescope; MEMS mirror; MEMS scanner; LiDAR; 3D measurement

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Gail, J.; Kruse, F.; Gu-Stoppel, S.; Schmedemann, O.; Leder, G.; Reinert, W.; Wysocki, L.; Burmeister, N.; Ratzmann, L.; Giese, T.; et al. Advancements in Aircraft Engine Inspection: A MEMS-Based 3D Measuring Borescope. Aerospace 2025, 12, 419. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12050419

AMA Style

Gail J, Kruse F, Gu-Stoppel S, Schmedemann O, Leder G, Reinert W, Wysocki L, Burmeister N, Ratzmann L, Giese T, et al. Advancements in Aircraft Engine Inspection: A MEMS-Based 3D Measuring Borescope. Aerospace. 2025; 12(5):419. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12050419

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gail, Jonathan, Felix Kruse, Shanshan Gu-Stoppel, Ole Schmedemann, Günther Leder, Wolfgang Reinert, Lena Wysocki, Nils Burmeister, Lars Ratzmann, Thorsten Giese, and et al. 2025. "Advancements in Aircraft Engine Inspection: A MEMS-Based 3D Measuring Borescope" Aerospace 12, no. 5: 419. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12050419

APA Style

Gail, J., Kruse, F., Gu-Stoppel, S., Schmedemann, O., Leder, G., Reinert, W., Wysocki, L., Burmeister, N., Ratzmann, L., Giese, T., Schütt, P., Piechotta, G., & Schüppstuhl, T. (2025). Advancements in Aircraft Engine Inspection: A MEMS-Based 3D Measuring Borescope. Aerospace, 12(5), 419. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12050419

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