Self-optimised Robotic simulation and off-line programming tool for non-destructive testing of advanced composite structure

复合材料在航空航天、可再生能源特别是风能、汽车和其他行业中广泛应用的关键限制因素是与质量检测相关的困难，这导致无损检测（NDT）成为复合材料结构制造中的重要瓶颈。这些困难是由于越来越复杂的几何形状，越来越多的复合材料和零件的尺寸。无损检测操作员在检测技术和解释超声波信号方面很熟练，但通常在机器人编程方面没有太多经验，因此需要一个仿真工具来自动生成最佳机器人运动路径。应用计算与工程（ACEL）的目标是开发用于先进复合材料结构无损检测（NDT）的创新机器人仿真软件，这将以最少的用户输入自动生成最佳机器人运动路径。新的碰撞检测算法将在64位MS/Windows体系结构和多个CPU核上运行，这对于解决高分辨率图形仿真的速度和内存大小要求至关重要。预计全球NDT设备市场将稳步增长。据Frost and Sullivan的数据显示，2008年全球碳纤维复合材料的需求量为11亿美元，增长率为2.4%。据估计，2009年全球碳纤维复合材料的需求量约为108亿美元，预计2015年将达到186亿美元，年增长率为7%。该市场证明项目的主要目标是评估ACEL创新软件的商业可行性，建立英国和欧盟市场的全面验证，并深入了解关键利益相关者、潜在合作伙伴和客户的真实的需求和要求。早期的市场定位将大大加快项目的开发和实现。

Key limiting factors to the wider uptake of composites in the aerospace, renewable energyespecially wind, automotive and other industries are the difficulties linked to qualityinspection which result in Non Destructive Testing (NDT) being an important bottleneck inthe manufacturing of composites structures. These difficulties are due to increasingly complexgeometries, an increasing array of composite materials and dimension of parts. NDT operatorsare skilled in testing technology and interpreting ultra-sonic signal but generally do not havemuch experience in programming robots, hence the need for a simulation tool to automaticallygenerate the optimum robot motion path. The objective of Applied Computing andEngineering (ACEL) is to develop innovative robotic simulation software for non-destructivetesting (NDT) of advanced composite structures, which will automatically generate anoptimum robot motion path with minimum user input. The new collision detection algorithmwill be developed to operate on 64 bit MS/Windows architecture and multiple CPU cores, thiswill be crucial to address the speed and memory size requirements for the high resolutiongraphics simulation. The global NDT equipment market is expected to grow steadily. It wasvalued at $1.1 billion in 2008 (Frost and Sullivan) with a positive growth rate of 2.4 percent.The global demand on carbon fibre composites was estimated at roughly $10.8 billion in 2009and is expected to reach $18.6 billion in 2015 with an annual growth rate of 7% (AcmiteMarket Intelligence). The key objective of this Proof of Market project is to assess thecommercial viability of ACEL’s innovative software, to establish a full validation of the UKand EU market and gaining a thorough understanding of the real needs and requirements ofkey stakeholders, potential partners and clients. The early mapping of the marketopportunities will significantly accelerate the development and realisation of the project.