Russia Deploys Robotic Tomography System to Detect Manufacturing Defects
An ultrasonic inspection robot identifies cracks, voids, and other hidden flaws inside materials and welded joints.
A team from the Industrial Robotics Development Center at Innopolis University has developed an ultrasonic tomography system called SPRUT. Designed to inspect metal structures and complex-shaped components, the system detects internal defects 30% more effectively and improves inspection sensitivity by 20%.
The robotic manipulator uses a built-in ultrasonic instrument to find cracks, voids, and other hidden defects inside materials and welds. The system also includes a working immersion tank, where components are placed for examination.
Robotics and Visualization
A key feature of the system is its robotic operation, along with the ability to save and reload measurement results. The integrated software controls the manipulator and flaw detector, calibrates the position of the inspected object, generates scanning trajectories, performs scanning and ultrasonic data reconstruction, and visualizes the results.
According to Renat Adutov, technical director of the Industrial Robotics Development Center at Innopolis University, SPRUT makes it possible to obtain the most complete picture of product quality – from an overall 3D map down to the microstructure of a specific defect.
The solution is expected to be useful for companies in metallurgy, aircraft manufacturing, rail transport, as well as the electronics and microtechnology industries.
