Colorado Patent of the Month – July 2025
A new patent reveals an advanced system for underwater inspection, moving beyond traditional camera-based methods. U.S. Patent No. 12347575, titled ‘Systems and methods for laser inspection and measurements’, describes a specialized lidar system. This technology offers precise, non-contact measurements in environments like nuclear reactor pools. It is designed to enhance safety and efficiency during critical maintenance. The invention, assigned to 3D at Depth Inc., aims to solve common problems in nuclear facility inspections.
Underwater Lidar for Nuclear Safety
The core of the invention is a lidar system that operates underwater. This system creates detailed three-dimensional “point cloud” data. It maps entire areas, like reactor vessels or fuel storage pools, from a single location. This approach eliminates the need for close-up cameras and reduces personnel exposure to radiation. The patent details methods for deploying the system from an operator bridge. This allows for remote inspection and measurement of vital components. The technology can precisely determine component locations. It can also measure distances between objects like fuel assemblies.
Beyond Visual Inspection
The system’s capabilities go beyond simple imaging. It can detect foreign objects and guide their retrieval. It can also validate the correct placement of new components before they are lowered. The lidar can perform high-resolution scans on specific areas of interest. This allows for detailed inspection of welds and other critical features. The patent describes how the system can measure vibration and detect deformities. This includes bow, bend, or twist in fuel assemblies. This comprehensive approach provides a more reliable and less time-consuming alternative to old methods.
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The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit (or R&D Tax Credit), is a general business tax credit under Internal Revenue Code section 41 for companies that incur research and development (R&D) costs in the United States. The credits are a tax incentive for performing qualified research in the United States, resulting in a credit to a tax return. For the first three years of R&D claims, 6% of the total qualified research expenses (QRE) form the gross credit. In the 4th year of claims and beyond, a base amount is calculated, and an adjusted expense line is multiplied times 14%. Click here to learn more.
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