Robotic Enabled Sensing/Welding

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The goal of the project is to investigate sensor-driven automation of high-integrity welding, based on ultrasonic volumetric data, to safely deliver high-quality welds right first time, every time, in challenging industrial environments. Traditionally, welding and inspection of high-integrity joints are separate, sequential, often manual processes in manufacturing and repair. Ultimately, these limitations reduce productivity, throughput, schedule certainty and increase rework if defects are detected at weld completion. As welding is a dynamic volumetric process, fusing joints of depth and width, this project seeks to exploit the volumetric imaging capability of ultrasonics, and introduce this inspection modality directly into the welding process control loop. By investigating robotic in-process ultrasonic inspection and control, this project aims to deliver high-integrity welds right, first time, every time and overcome current technical and process limitations.In-process ultrasonic-enabled welding control aims to offer significant reductions, estimated from current operational data of:- > 55% in weld process time- > 50% in overall weld cost- > 75% in man hoursThese significant technical, commercial and safety benefits underpin long-term research sustainability and empower research for future funding, research and commercialisation. The student will be based in the newly opened £2.1M Sensor Enabled Automation & Control Hub (SEARCH) Laboratory, working alongside a research team of over 35 researchers and PhD Students, while also having access to state of the art sensor, robotic and welding equipment.