MechChem Africa August 2018

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AI in future X-ray inspection systems

and quality of the underlying image data. “Data is the oil of Industry 4.0,” emphasises Schulenburg. 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 qual- ity of the data, the better the AI can become. VisiConsult‘s error database includes multi-valuedmulti-user recordswithmarked and classified errors. As a specialist for fully automated inspection systems, VisiConsult has developed a patent for automatic robot positioning: Through the combination of robotics, 3D sensors and image registra- tion, a high positioning repeatability can be achievedwithoutadditionalcomponents.This systemwill nowbe combinedwith the newAI solutions, reducing the ramp-upprocess from several days to a few hours. Components are then moved in mixed operationonaconveyorbeltinthesystemand areautomaticallydetectedby the system. The softwarerecogniseswhichcomponentistobe inspectedandguides the robotics to the exact inspection position. This eliminates set-up times completely and significantly increases the throughput. As a side effect, the pseudo- rejects are reduced and the detection prob- ability is increased. Bothare requirements for aerospace approval of the system. q

A rtificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning is becoming omnipresent in many industries. In addition to promi- nent examples such as autonomous driving, the inspection industry is also looking into this technology. The R&D-driven company, VisiConsult X-ray Systems&Solutions, for ex- ample, is currently developing an AI platform todetect defects evenmore reliably andmore automatically than in the past. X-ray technology is widely used in non- destructive testing (NDT). Unlike visual processes, internal defects such as pores, inclusions or geometries can also be de- tected using X-ray methods. Since the move todigitalisationover thepast tenyears, digital detectors have begun to be used much more as a replacement for analogue film. With this digitalisation step, the data is available in real time and can be evaluated by computers. Especially in the automotive sector with its high volumes, this is highly relevant. For 20 years, VisiConsult X-ray Systems has been delivering so-called automated defect rec- ognition (ADR) systems, which detect errors automatically after a human has completed a component-specific parameterisation. Nowadays, production cycles are getting shorter and shorter and the market is calling

for faster ramp-up times. Furthermore, parts are becoming lighter and more complex, while the quality re- quirements are increasing at the same pace. The classic image-processing methods of X-ray specialists require high position- ing accuracy and an extensive component parameterisation. Specialists from VisiConsult predict that by using artificial intelligence, this effort could be massively reduced. Initial tests with available AI frameworks already achieved detection rates of up to 90% in a blind study compared to the conventional procedure. “The tests in this area are still in their infancy,“ says Lennart Schulenburg, authorised signa- tory at VisiConsult, “since our systems are used to test safety-critical components, ex- tensive tests andqualifications arenecessary.” Automationisoneofthefocustopicsofthe familybusiness,asaresultofwhichVisiConsult concluded a research cooperation project with theUniversity of Lübeck in 2017. As part of this cooperation, there are several master and doctoral theses on the subject of AI. “The universityofLübeckisaleaderinmedicalimag- ingandhasalreadyinvestigatedAIintensively, puttingthemedicalareaaheadofindustry.We are currently transferring this knowledge to our applications,” says Schulenburg. Due to qualification obstacles, ADR has historically been excluded from highly critical areas such as aviation. Because of increased volumes in these areas, however, there is now great interest in qualifying the procedures. VisiConsult is thus working with a leading aviationgroupinaEuropeanaviationresearch project in order to establish ADR as a test method. The use of AI is also being tested in thisarea.VisiConsulthopesforabreakthrough with smart machines, especially in the field of automatic defect recognition within welds. Crucial for the success of AI is the number

Industry diary October 2018

African Chemicals Imbizo 2018 24-25 October 2018, Durban ICC

DCCimbizo@bmanalysts.com Meghan.King@bmanalysts.com +27 31 764 6100 www.durbanchemicalscluster.org.za/imbizo

The in-house developed Xplus ADR finds and validates errors in components fully automatically – and by incorporating AI, the accuracy can be further improved.

SACAC Control Systems Day 2018 30 October 2018 lauret@sun.ac.za margret.bauer@up.ac.za +27 11 021 8196

Innovation in Industry Conference 7 September, NMU, Port Elizabeth

Air & Vacuum Technologies....................................................37 APE Pumps............................................................................... OFC Atlas Copco..................................................................................... 3 BI Bearings International.........................................................20 Comtest..........................................................................................13 Crown Publications....................................................................22 CTC...................................................................................................15 Engen ..............................................................................................19 Hytec Holdings/Bosch Rexroth.............................................11 Lanxess............................................................................................30 Martec.......................................................................................... IBC SEW.............................................................................................OBC SKF..................................................................................................IFC ThyssenKrupp..............................................................................14 Wearcheck.....................................................................................21 WIKA Instruments.....................................................................33 Zest WEG Group.........................................................................17 Index to advertisers

Sponsored by Altair and hosted by the Nelson Mandela University (NMU), a full agenda is now in place for the very first 2018 Innovation in Industry Conference. Local initiatives and technology will be shared in the hope of enabling and accelerating innovation, which is critical to industrial development in South Africa. CliveHands, the conference champion fromNMU’s engineering department, andErnst Burger of Altair say: “Port Elizabeth is the ideal place for an advanced technology confer- ence and not only because NMU is based here. Logistically, it is easy to organise the event using our facilities, but more importantly, many companies in this region are successfully deploying new technology for production-related applications. Topics have been chosen to be of interest to engineers, designers and managers in- volved in design, research and development using CAE technology. These include: Metal additive manufacturing in industry; Designing for additive manufacturing; Optimisation and lightweighting techniques; VR and AR applications in industry; and much more. q

40 ¦ MechChem Africa • August 2018