AR Aircraft Exterior Inspection System Based on Visual SLAM Technology

Abstract Aircraft exterior inspection refers to the necessary inspection procedures conducted by qualified aircraft maintenance personnel before takeoff and after landing. This process involves detailed visual inspections of the exterior and certain interior components of the aircraft to ensure its good technical condition. The inspection procedure is typically intricate, requiring the inspector to refer to a substantial amount of information, which poses a risk of oversight and is inconvenient to record and review. This paper proposes an Augmented Reality (AR) aircraft exterior inspection system based on Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM) technology. The system aims to provide a highly informative approach to assist the inspector in visually inspecting and maintaining the aircraft exterior. A head-mounted display device equipped with stereo cameras and an Inertial Measuring Unit (IMU) sensor is utilized in the system. When the user wears the device, the system can receive the required inspection information in real-time based on the current pose of the device, while their inspection status is recorded. Experimental results demonstrate the reliable accuracy of the system in a controlled environment, fully realizing the assistance and retrospective process of inspections.