An innovative method of controlling and optimizing car painting processes

汽车工业中的新油漆生产工艺具有更高的成本和材料效率的潜力，但需要比目前更高水平的工艺监控。凭借其太赫兹技术，TeraView Ltd已经证明了以非接触方式同时快速测量多个涂层的离线能力。在这个项目中，我们将开发一种技术演示仪，用于在生产线上真实的实时监控涂层厚度。包括财团成员福特英国公司在内的几家汽车制造商已表示有兴趣应用这一技术来协助监测和控制喷漆过程。该项目代表了最初的7000万英镑以上的商业机会，并在太赫兹领域为汽车行业引入了新的传感器技术。技术创新包括真实的时间信号处理、太赫兹传感器的机器人控制以及适合工业部署的坚固传感器的创建。

New paint production processes in the automative industry have the potential to be much more cost and materials efficient but require higher levels of process monitoring than are currently available. With its terahertz technology, TeraView Ltd has demonstrated the offline ability to rapidly measure simultaneously several coating layers in a non-contact manner. In this project, we will develop a technology demonstrator to monitor coating thickness in real time on the production line. Several car manufacturers including Ford UK, a consortium member, have expressed interest in applying this technology to assist in monitoring and control of the painting process. The project represents an initial £70M+ business opportunity and, in terahertz, introduces a new sensor technology to the automotive industry. Technical innovations include real time signal processing, roboting control of the terahertz sensor and creation of a ruggedised sensor suitable for industrial deployment.