Robotic laser-ultrasonic inspection of composites

Abstract

In laser-ultrasonics for inspecting composites, the beams are usually directed onto the part with a computer controlled scanning mirror. This approach has sensitivity limitations when the surface is very shiny (mold facing surfaces). This limitation is eliminated by controlling the direction of the laser beams with an articulated robot, its trajectory being determined from the CAD of the part or its surface mapping from a 3D laser scanner. The scanning mirror is eliminated. We are reporting here successful implementation on a 6-axis robot.