Next generation concrete ultrasound scanner with integrated AI and its expansion to metal/composite

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

Elop Technology has developed the Elop Insight, which is the world’s first rolling ultrasound scanner for concrete inspection. It enables scanning of large areas of concrete structures approximately 10 times faster than the current state of the art ultrasound NDT instruments. Due to ELOP’s unique patented dry coupling solution no surface preparation is needed which improves the ease of use and speed of inspection. On top of our key unique selling point of high-speed, EI also provide high resolution, two-meter penetration depth and real-time 3D tomography images of internal defects and features such as delaminations, cracks, technical pipes and tendon ducts. In this project we will take our scanner technology to the next level by introducing advanced AI functionality for image enhancement to suppress noise/artifacts and improve the interpretability of 3D images. Due to the diversity of concrete surfaces and composition, system setup can sometimes be a very time consuming and iterative task. To alleviate the user from this an AI-based optimization algorithm will analyze the signals and automatically adjust the scan settings to adapt to the concrete structure. Finally, an AI-based approach will be used to build an user assisted classification of defects/features to help in the analysis/interpretation and reporting. We will further heighten the innovation level of our scanner by improving the core technology in acoustical performance and ease of operation by considerably reducing its weight. Finally, we will extend our innovation into the higher frequency domain for inspecting new materials such as composites and metals entering new markets such as windmills, railway and aerospace. This range of scanning systems will fill a technological gap of cost-effective, high-accuracy, high-speed and safe NDT products with an unprecedented level of surface adaptability through innovative individual probe suspension system and a unique modular and scalable solution.