Robotic Enabled Sensing/Welding

该项目的目标是研究基于超声波体积数据的传感器驱动的高完整性焊接自动化，以便在具有挑战性的工业环境中每次都能第一次安全地提供高质量的焊接。传统上，高完整性接头的焊接和检测在制造和修理中是分开的、顺序的，通常是手工的过程。最终，这些限制降低了生产率、吞吐量、进度确定性，并增加了在焊接完成时发现缺陷的返工。由于焊接是一个动态的体积过程，融合了深度和宽度的接头，本项目寻求利用超声波的体积成像能力，并将这种检测方式直接引入焊接过程控制回路。通过研究机器人在过程中的超声波检测和控制，该项目旨在第一次、每次都能提供高完整性的焊缝，并克服当前的技术和工艺限制。根据目前的运行数据，超声波焊接控制旨在显著降低焊接时间，减少55%的焊接时间，减少50%的总焊接成本，减少75%的工时。这些显著的技术、商业和安全效益支撑了长期研究的可持续性，并为未来的研究、研究和商业化提供了支持。该学生将在新开放的耗资210万英镑的传感器自动化与控制中心（SEARCH）实验室工作，与超过35名研究人员和博士生组成的研究团队一起工作，同时还可以使用最先进的传感器、机器人和焊接设备。

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.