TPT March 2019

I NSPE C T I ON & T E S T I NG

AI as a future technology in X-ray inspection ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) or machine learning is currently the subject of much discussion. In addition to prominent examples, such as autonomous driving, the inspection industry is looking into this technology. The R&D-driven company VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions is currently developing an AI platform to detect defects more reliably and in a more automated way. automatically after component-specific parameterisation. Production cycles are getting shorter and the market is calling for faster ramp-up times. Furthermore, parts are going to be lighter and more complex, while the quality requirements increase to the same extent. research project to establish ADR as a test method. The use of AI is also being tested in this area. Particularly in the field of automatic defect recognition within welds, VisiConsult hopes for a breakthrough with smart machines.

Crucial for the success of AI is the quantity and quality of the underlying image data. “Data is the oil of Industry 4.0,” emphasised Lennart Schulenburg from VisiConsult. For this reason, VisiConsult has developed a cloud solution into which cooperation partners can upload evaluated image data. These are anonymised and used to parameterise the AI. The higher the quality of the data, the better the AI can become. The software will recognise which component is to be inspected and guide the robotics to the exact inspection position.

The classic image processing methods of the X-ray specialists require high positioning accuracy and extensive component parameterisation. Specialists from VisiConsult predict that using artificial intelligence could massively reduce this effort. Initial tests with available AI frameworks have already achieved detection rates of up to 90 per cent in a blind study compared to the conventional procedure. Due to qualification obstacles, ADR has historically been excluded from highly critical areas such as aviation. With increased quantities in these areas, there is interest in qualifying the procedures accordingly. VisiConsult is therefore working with a leading aviation group in a European aviation

X-ray technology is used in non- destructive testing (NDT). Unlike optical processes, internal defects like pores, inclusions or geometries can also be detected. Since digitisation became commonplace over the last ten years, digital detectors have increasingly been used instead of analogue film. With this digitisation step, the data is available in real time and can be evaluated by computers. This is highly relevant, especially in the automotive sector with its high volumes. For 20 years, VisiConsult has been delivering automated defect recognition (ADR) systems, which detect errors

VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions GmbH – Germany Email: info@visiconsult.de Website: www.visiconsult.de

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MARCH 2019