Methodology for the Generation of High-Quality Ultrasonic Images of Complex Geometry Pieces Using Industrial Robots

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Aerospace Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Industrial robots are crucial for automated non-destructive testing (NDT) in aerospace.
• Existing robots offer precision but struggle with synchronizing movement and data acquisition for complex geometries.
• This synchronization issue hinders high-quality ultrasonic imaging for aerospace component assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a patented methodology for generating high-quality ultrasonic images of complex geometry parts using industrial robots.
• To address the challenge of synchronizing industrial robot movement with ultrasonic data acquisition.
• To enable precise NDT for aerospace components.

Main Methods:

• Application of a patented methodology involving calibration experiments.
• Calculation of a synchronism map to correct for robot movement and data acquisition discrepancies.
• Integration of the corrected map into an autonomous, external system for ultrasonic image generation.

Main Results:

• Successful generation of high-quality ultrasonic images for complex geometry parts.
• Demonstration of precise synchronization between industrial robot motion and ultrasonic data acquisition.
• Validation of the methodology's effectiveness in overcoming previous limitations.

Conclusions:

• The developed methodology enables high-quality ultrasonic imaging for complex aerospace components using industrial robots.
• It establishes reliable synchronization between any industrial robot and ultrasonic imaging systems.
• This advancement significantly improves NDT capabilities in the aeronautical sector.