Automated Non Destructive Testing for the Aerospace Industry

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The aim of this project is to automate non-destructive testing (NDT) systems used in the aerospace industry so as to ease inspection procedures as well as to enhance systems sensitivity, reliability and repeatability. Quality certification of aeronautical parts in production and evaluation of defects created on these parts in service are critical tasks frequently relying on NDT. Currently, these tasks are, performed by human inspectors whose diversified experience may lead to variation in results interpretation. In addition, manpower assigned to such tasks results in significant recurrent costs and is time consuming. L-3 MAS and PWC, the industrial partners involved in this project,have identified two common methods that wouid benefit from automation: Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) and Eddy Current Testing (ECT). A standard robotic system will be used to handle the probe associated with each technique. Based on data provided by a 3D laser system and using CAD files if available, an initial scanning'path will be generated. In case CAD files are not available or not reliable (particularly for in-service or modified components), an initial or largest envelope volume will be used instead. Data fusion algorithms will be used to build a defect map of the inspected sllrface and to refine the scanning path in subsequent passes. Firially, an intelligent expert system will provide the user with a decision on whether a defect is present or not based on the interpretation of the signals froin the probes., The final result of this project will be a functional small-scale robotic NDT inspection workcell serving as a benchmark for comparison to human inspectors. Additionally, it is proposed to evaluate novel NDT schemes such as Infrared Thermography. This novel scheme allows to collect thermal infrared signatures from induced Eddy currents.