Automated Inspection of Challenging Components using Novel Kelpie Designs

该项目将探索这一新兴技术与具有挑战性的工业检测的自动检测的结合。这可以采用具有复杂几何形状的组件的形式，或者限制对整个组件表面的访问。重要的是，在许多这样的情况下，射线照相被用于检查，这就需要清除附近的人员和检查员的辐射暴露风险。因此，从健康和安全的角度来看，转向超声波技术将是有利的。然而，这种检测条件对于标准超声波检测技术来说是具有挑战性的，Kelpie传感器方法为这种工业检测需求提供了一种潜在的解决方案。该项目将考虑为一些适当的工业组件定制Kelpie阵列配置。模拟将用于研究一系列阵列设计，并与Novosound密切合作，以符合制造限制。斯特拉斯克莱德大学将对阵列进行广泛的表征和评估，以确保传感器性能适用于无损检测应用。该项目的一个关键目标是将Kelpie设计集成到能够在限制进入区域操作的自动检查系统中。该任务将开发定制的机械系统来操纵传感器，以确保整个区域覆盖，并随后从组件获取高保真的超声波数据。最后阶段将研究后处理算法，以产生被检查部件的3D图像，这将融合来自扫描和超声波系统的数据。从事该项目的研究人员将获得广泛的可转移技能的专业知识，包括系统建模，传感器制造，机械系统设计和信号/图像处理。除了核心技术技能的发展，成功的FUSE研究人员在这个项目中工作将与一个新兴的和雄心勃勃的公司合作，有机会发展适当的商业和营销技能。

This project will explore the alignment of this emerging technology with automated inspection of challenging industrial inspections. This can take the form of components with complex geometries or restricted access to the entire component surface. Importantly, in many such scenarios, radiography is used for inspection, necessitating clearance of personnel from the vicinity and radiation exposure risks to the inspector. Hence, a move towards ultrasonic techniques would be advantageous from a health and safety perspective. However, such inspection conditions are challenging for standard ultrasonic inspection techniques and the Kelpie sensor approach offers a potential solution for such industrial inspection needs.The project will consider customised Kelpie array configurations for a number of appropriate industrial components. Simulation will be used to investigate a range of array designs, with close collaboration with Novosound required to align with manufacturing constraints. Extensive characterisation and evaluation of the arrays will be undertaken at the University of Strathclyde to ensure the sensor performance is applicable for NDE inspection applications.A key objective of the project will be to integrate the Kelpie designs into an automated inspection system capable of operating in areas of restricted access. This task will develop bespoke mechanical systems to manipulate the sensor to ensure full area coverage and subsequently acquire high fidelity ultrasonic data from the component. The final stage will be to investigate post-processing algorithms to produce 3D images of the component under inspection, which will fuse data from the scanning and ultrasonic systems.The researcher working on this project will gain expertise across a wide range of transferrable skills including system modelling, sensor fabrication, mechanical system design and signal/image processing. In addition to the core technical skills development, the successful FUSE researcher working on this project will collaborate with an emerging and ambitious company, with opportunities to develop appropriate business and marketing skills.