Inspection Equipment Research Articles

Development and control of a hybrid active mount module for precision stages.

In recent years, precision stages, which are widely used in many industrial fields, have been required to have a higher speed, larger size, and higher precision to help realize higher productivity and product quality. High-performance positioning techniques for inspection and production equipment are classified as one of the most challenging technologies. Vibration control is crucial to realize high-precision positioning technologies. In a precision system, various vibrations exist, which act as disturbances and can degrade the system performance. Minimizing the vibrations generated by the system can, thus, help improve the accuracy of system positioning. This paper proposes a hybrid active mount module for a precision stage. The developed module improves stage performance by reducing the base vibration arising from the floor, minimizing the vibration caused by the driving linear motors of the precision stage, and reducing the settling time by compensating the offset displacement due to the nonlinearity of the passive mount during stage driving. The prototype design is presented herein, and the experimental results demonstrate the potential of the developed device. The developed system is expected to effectively improve the stage performance by controlling the various causes of vibration.

Photonic crystal fiber based wide-range of refractive index sensor with phase matching between core mode and metal defect mode

A high sensitivity wide range surface plasmon resonance (SPR) refractive index sensor based on photonic crystal fiber (PCF) has been proposed in this paper. The finite element method (FEM) is used to calculate and analyte the structure of PCF. The optical properties of the PCF are investigated by adjusting the refractive index of liquid analyte. By optimization, the fiber sensor achieves a high linearity refractive index sensitivity of 0.9979 and 1931.03 nm / RIU over a refractive index range from 1.350 to 1.460 and achieves a short PCF length of 1 mm. It is allowed the sensor to be small enough to be integrated into inspection equipment,and expected to gain important applications in the fields of biological monitoring, environmental monitoring, and chemical production.

Contrast Enhancement of Power Plant Images Obtained from Industrial Borescope Devices

The industrial Video scope (VS) device is designed for the endoscopic inspection of professional equipment, like motors, pumps, turbines, cavities in buildings and vehicle bodies, etc. The output of this device is images and videos, but some output images may suffer from low contrast and poor details. This paper presents three proposed approaches to enhance the quality of the VS images. The first proposed approach is based on Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) with adaptive gamma correction. By choosing the best clip limits in CLAHE and transfer function (adaptive gamma correction), the first proposal achieves optimum contrast enhancement for the VS images. The second proposed approach depends on the Homomorphic with emphasis high pass filter. The homomorphic filtering is utilized on the video scope image in logarithm domain, Applying this method gives more details in the VS images. The third proposed approach depends on Homomorphic with emphasis high pass filter with histogram equalization. Applying this method gives more accurate and best visual quality of the output VS images. Numerical results show the ability of the three proposals in improvement the VS image quality, and they can be recommended for industrial VS systems.

Equipment Failure Detection Method of Substation Based on Tunnel Robot

Indoor substation is critical facilities of power system, therefore inspection of substation equipment is crucial to ensure the security of power supply. Substation inspection robot can collection information through variety of sensors, then the appropriate approach is used to determine the operational status of the substation equipment. The state of most indoor substation device can be acquired by image collection, but this method is not applicable to all devices. A new method of monitoring the operational status of equipment in the substation is put forward in this paper. The audio signal is collected by dual channel collection equipment which is brought in the indoor intelligent robot. The angle information of collected signal is calculated according to signal procession theory. The operational status of equipment can be obtained easily by analyzing the angular information. Simulation result indicate the feasibility of the method. It combines audio signal procession and intelligent surveillance robot and the system is low cost and simple to realize with certain engineering value.

Design of AR Inspection System for Protection Equipment of Intelligent Substation

According to the requirements of on-site inspection for protection equipment in intelligent substation, combined with spatial anchor, an AR inspection system with man in the loop and virtual reality integration is proposed based on the augmented reality technology. The overall design is carried out from multiple dimensions such as system architecture, business functions, business processes and network topology, and the technical methods and key technology implementation methods such as target recognition, spatial positioning, and near-eye display are elaborated in detail, the implementation of inspection task is verified by field application from macro and micro scales. The system realizes the enhanced display of real equipment in physical space and various equipment status, monitoring data, operation and maintenance information in virtual space, assists personnel to carry out inspection activities such as inspection route navigation, equipment location, inspection operation and process record, improves the patrol quality, efficiency and upgrade methods, it has important application value.

Innovative digital inspection methodology

The paper describes an innovative digital inspection methodology that combines 3D laser scanning, metrology and advanced non-destructive testing data that is merged in 3D space to provide a digital record of the condition and mechanical integrity of critical assets. This advanced inspection method supports condition-based maintenance programs and digital twin models to determine future equipment condition, work scope and inspection schedules, while maintaining a digital record throughout the equipment lifecycle. Testing of the methodology includes 3D scanning of drill platforms, baseline scanning of blowout preventers and sheaves, for quality purposes, and the use of augmented reality for viewing scans. Phased array testing has been conducted on sub-components such as slew ring bolting. Data are combined into digital reports that show 3D images of the equipment with precise dimensional data and identified inspection areas. Such reports can be combined with digital twin models to confirm integrity of the equipment for certificate of conformance and baseline data for future integrity comparisons as equipment ages. This innovative inspection methodology will set a new standard for how equipment data are captured, stored and represented. The process provides a range of benefits for OEMs, drilling contractors and operators alike, including digital quality programs to baseline new equipment condition and compare with design parameters, delivering condition and integrity assessments of critical equipment items in-situ or on deck, providing a consistent methodology for inspection and dimensional control of operational equipment items, and providing precise equipment data that can complement digital twin and real time monitoring programs.

Interior Inspection for Equipment and Furnishings System of Civil Aircraft

Equipment and Furnishings System of civil aircraft has many sub-systems, including Pilot Seat, Observer Seat, Cabin Attendant Seat, Galley, Lavatory, Passenger Seat, Overhead Bin, Cockpit Lining, Cabin Lining, Cargo Lining, Emergency Equipment, Passenger Service Unit and Placards/Markings. Inspection (MOC7), as one of means of compliance for certification, is usually used for the certification of the regulations of FAR25.562, 785, 815, etc. The sub-systems in Equipment and Furnishings System are very different at every aspect. They have different functions, working principles and system architectures. These differences make the inspection of Equipment and Furnishings System complicated. A lot of details need attention. This article described the inspection requirement and Pass/Failure criteria for Equipment and Furnishings System.

Sewer Pipeline Fault Identification Using Anomaly Detection Algorithms on Video Sequences

Most existing sewer pipeline condition assessment methods determine the presence and types of faults via examination of videos, which is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. A few automatic methods based on image processing techniques can be used to detect specific faults. However, these methods have limitations due to the presence of unpredictable sewer pipeline fault patterns. Deep learning methods have also been applied to sewer pipeline fault detection. However, these methods require a large amount of annotated data to obtain reliable results. In this paper, we propose a fault detection method that applies unsupervised machine learning based anomaly detection algorithms with feature extraction to videos recorded by new sewer pipeline visual inspection equipment. The recorded videos are regarded as sequence signals, which are converted into feature vectors, followed by application of an anomaly detection algorithm. Unlike existing methods, the proposed method is computationally efficient as it does not require an annotated fault sample database for training fault detection models. We evaluate various anomaly detection algorithms and feature combinations on real sewer pipeline data collected in Shenzhen, with an overall accuracy result of above 90%. The proposed method provides a new and fast technique for surveying urban sewer pipelines, and to facilitate further research in this area, we have made the code and data used in this paper publicly available.

Development of Inspection Equipment Entering a Narrow Place

Development of Inspection Equipment Entering a Narrow Place

Design of Joint Test Device for Fuel Delivery Shut-off Valve

In view of the fact that the new aircraft units were used, it was common to lack the fuel accessory inspection equipment, a set of combined test equipment for fueling and fuel delivery shut-off valve was designed. The basic work of the fuel delivery shut-off valve was introduced, the composition and principle of fueling test system and electric control system were described, and the realization methods of the hardware and software were given. The practical application shows that the test equipment can meet the test requirements of this type of fuel accessories, fully meeting the design goals.

Early Intervention Mechanism for Preventing Electrical Shocks During Construction Projects: Portable Electrical Equipment

To prevent electrical shock accidents in construction sites, the present researchers used portable electrical equipment as an example to plan a preconstruction early intervention mechanism that can be used to conduct various inspections of portable electrical devices. This study used narrative text analysis for data collection and compilation. The researchers analyzed 41 real electrocution death cases involving portable electric equipment as the electrocution medium in the Taiwanese construction industry and identified hazard factors that cause electrocution from the case summaries. Then, the IDEF3 was used to integrate and construct a model for the portable electrical equipment inspection flowchart of the early intervention mechanism as a safety inspection system to prevent electrocution in construction engineering units. This study revealed hazard factors and management omissions related to electrocutions caused by portable electrical equipment. To protect workers and strengthen the safety of the construction site, this study proposed of an electric shock prevention early intervention mechanism for portable electric equipment in construction projects. Various inspections should be conducted before equipment is brought on site for construction operations to ensure the safety of electrical equipment and reduce electrocution risks. This study also established a visualization mechanism for the visual qualification label of portable electrical equipment. This mechanism is conducive to strengthening safety management.

3-D visualization of AGR fuel channel bricks using Structure-from-Motion

This paper outlines a new framework for applying Structure-from-Motion (SfM) to challenging, feature-poor environments such as those observed during AGR fuel channel inspection. Deriving structural information from Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) inspection footage is challenging due to several key issues: lack of discriminative salient features within the channel, inconsistency in lighting during the inspection process, lack of textural information within the channel and noise from the inspection equipment. This presents difficulties to techniques such as SfM due to its reliance on finding and reliably tracking a set of robust features from multiple viewpoints. This paper introduces the first use of an incremental 3-D reconstruction framework which can produce reconstructions of footage obtained within a nuclear reactor. It approaches this issue by introducing a novel correspondence searching methodology which can operate within feature-poor environments by utilising a constrained, iterative threshold matching technique to obtain robust feature matches. This paper demonstrates the approach using two datasets: laboratory footage obtained from an experimental setup emulating a small sub-section of the channel and in-core inspection footage of AGR fuel channels.

Analysis of categorical incident data and design for safety interventions using axiomatic design framework

Although analysing categorical data from incident investigation reports provides meaningful associations amongst causal factors of incidents, however, to date, no studies considered these associations in designing actionable interventions for safety improvement. We propose a methodology using descriptive analytics and axiomatic design framework. In this study, we have analysed injury, and ‘property-damage’ data, collected for 45 months from a large integrated steel plant. The data are analysed using the contingency table, Cramer’s V, Phi coefficients (ϕ) and Fisher’s exact test. The ‘wire-making division’ is the most injury-prone. Unsafe acts done by fellow workers are significantly causing injuries in ‘support services’, maintenance and ‘steel-making’. The property-damage cases are mostly reported in ‘steel-making division’, and caused by material-handling, crane-dashing, toxic-chemical, hot-metal and process-related incidents. It is also found that SOP inadequacy and non-compliance are significantly associated with ‘property-damage’ incidents. The key interventions from axiomatic design are as follows. For process-related incidents, regular inspection and maintenance of safety-critical equipment should be done. Safety-critical instrument and alarms can also be used to monitor safe operating limits of processes. Unsafe acts by fellow workers are the result of lack of coordination and communication. So, the management should identify and provide the types of safety training necessary to improve the same. The material-handling related problems can be handled through improved staff competency and communication. To address the SOP related issues, operating procedures should be reviewed, revised and communicated regularly.

Evolution of Directive (EC) No 128/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council Establishing a Framework for Community Action to Achieve the Sustainable Use of Pesticides

The EC Directive No 128/2009 established a regulatory framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides (phytopharmaceuticals) that entered into force in 2011. The Directive manages all aspect of pesticides approved under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and listed in implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 outside the approval and approval procedure, including all relevant National Action Plans (NAP), training, sales of pesticides, information awareness-raising, pesticides storage, application and equipment (i.e. inspection of equipment in use), specific practices and uses (i.e. aerial spraying), indicators and reporting on pesticide uses. This study examines the evolution of these dispositions framing the use of pesticides in Europe and the recent implementation of the harmonized risk indicators (HRI), which are expected to diminish in numbers over time. Calculation of the annual HRI values, and analysis of their evolution through the years is, therefore, for the first time, a method to quantify the evolution of the theoretical impact of pesticides at the pan-European level and to measure the progress against the original purpose of the directive, and therefore, its success.
 https://www.doi.org/10.21423/jrs-v07marchand

Citrus BMP Implementation in Florida’s Gulf Citrus Production Area: Pesticides

This document is about a survey conducted to quantify the implementation of pesticide Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the Gulf Coast Production Area (GCPA) citrus industry. The survey results revealed that most pesticide BMPs are widely adopted, with 13 out of 19 BMPs practiced on at least 80% of the surveyed area. This high adoption rate underscores the growers' awareness of the environmental and health impacts of pesticide use and their commitment to mitigating these effects. Key BMPs, such as targeted pesticide spraying, measures to reduce spray drift, regular equipment inspections, and proper storage practices, are extensively implemented. An informative BMP manual has been developed, and ongoing education and cost-share programs are recommended to support continuous improvement and adaptation to new regulations. Future surveys are suggested to monitor progress and effectiveness of these initiatives. First published Aug. 2010.

BIM-based augmented reality inspection and maintenance of fire safety equipment

Abstract The purpose of fire safety equipment (FSE) inspection and maintenance is to ensure that this equipment is in good working condition during emergencies, so that fire damage could be kept to a minimum. At present, the maintenance and inspection of FSE must be performed according to the standards and methods specified by fire safety regulations, which makes it necessary to consult relevant files and drawings. However, the reading of maintenance and inspection information can be a very time-consuming endeavor as the majority of these files are in paper. To solve the aforementioned issues, building information modeling (BIM) was used in this study to construct the FSE elements so that the required information could be rapidly acquired by FSE inspectors. A cloud database for equipment inspection and maintenance was then generated by organizing the compiled information. This database was combined with the augmented reality (AR) technology to facilitate FSE inspection and maintenance using mobile devices, thus overcoming the constraints imposed by paper files on these tasks. The results of the demonstration and validation shown that the proposed BIM AR FSE system provides highly comprehensive, mobile, and effective access to FSE information. The combination of information and real-life objects via AR effectively facilitated the presentation of information in an immediate, visual, and convenient manner.

A Method Based on Multi-Sensor Data Fusion for UAV Safety Distance Diagnosis

With the increasing application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the inspection of high-voltage overhead transmission lines, the study of the safety distance between drones and wires has received extensive attention. The determination of the safety distance between the UAV and the transmission line is of great significance to improve the reliability of the inspection operation and ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid and inspection equipment. Since there is no quantitative data support for the safety distance of overhead transmission lines in UAV patrol, it is impossible to provide accurate navigation information for UAV safe obstacle avoidance. This paper proposes a mathematical model based on a multi-sensor data fusion algorithm. The safety distance of the line drone is diagnosed. In these tasks, firstly, the physical model of the UAV in the complex electromagnetic field is established to determine the influence law of the UAV on the electric field distortion and analyze the maximum electric and magnetic field strength that the UAV can withstand. Then, based on the main factors affecting the UAV such as the maximum wind speed, inspection speed, positioning error, and the size of the drone, the adaptive weighted fusion algorithm is used to perform first-level data fusion on the homogeneous sensor data. Then, based on the improved evidence, the theory performs secondary fusion on the combined heterogeneous sensor data. According to the final processing result and the type of proposition set, we diagnose the current safety status of the drone to achieve an adaptive adjustment of the safety distance threshold. Lastly, actual measurement data is used to verify the mathematical model. The experimental results show that the mathematical model can accurately identify the safety status of the drone and adaptively adjust the safety distance according to the diagnosis result and surrounding environment information.

Research and Application of Inspecting Mode of Converter Station Equipment in the Background of Smart Grid

The inspection of equipment at the converter station is a basic work to discover equipment defects in time, ensure the safe and stable operation of the equipment in the converter station, and improve the reliability of the operation of the inter-area power grid. It mainly relies on the operation and maintenance personnel to perform periodic and regular periodic inspections. In order to ensure the safety and stability of the operation of the converter station equipment, ensure the patrol personnel arrival rate, realize the goal of scientific, standardized and intelligent inspection. On the basis of manual inspection, the advanced robot patrol system is used to design the intelligence of the converter station. The system was patrolled and the modules of the system’s back-end management system were analyzed. The system’s patrol management, defect management, equipment management, query analysis and system management functions are introduced in detail and applied to the actual patrol management work. The inspection method is compared with the traditional inspection method, and good practice results are obtained.

Design of patrol and control platform for power network based on UAV and VR

Since the beginning of the twenty-one th century, with the rapid development of China’s economy and the continuous progress of China’s power industry, it has contributed an indelible force to the development of China’s socialist undertakings The construction of power grid is very important to the development of society. The normal operation of the power grid can not be separated from regular inspection of power grid equipment and lines, so as to keep abreast of and understand the operation of power transmission lines and changes in the surrounding environment and Line Protection Areas Is the power supply enterprise a heavy daily work. Manual inspection is a traditional inspection method, but also the main way of transmission line inspection. Due to the complex terrain of the transmission line corridor, there are almost no patrol roads in some sections along the route in some harsh conditions such as river-crossing or high mountains and steep mountains. This patrol method has great labor intensity and difficult working conditions Transmission lines can not get timely feedback, and can not observe the real-time intuitive operation of lines and equipment. In this case, in response to the national “Internet +” strategic thinking, we initiated the “Internet +”, “UAV +” and “VR +” all-ecological power grid patrol mode Realize the power network equipment long-distance inspection, all-round inspection, real-time simulation inspection, inspection in bad environment, so that the cause of power inspection can take off.

Research on Risk Control of Hysteroscopy and Laparoscopy Based on Cloud Computing

This paper discusses the use of Medatc System for the inspection and failure statistics of hysteroscopy and laparoscopy equipment. We add up our hospital one year of hysteroscopy and laparoscopy repair failure about 200 cases, more than 20 cases of patrol inspection. The equipment is inspected by professional quality control tools. The purpose is to summarize experience, improve maintenance efficiency, reduce the risk of using instruments, and serve clinical departments well.