Development of a Field Portable Acousto-Optical Ultrasonic Evaluation System

Santec Systems Inc. has invented a super high-resolution, large area ultrasound detector called an acousto-optical (AO) sensor. It can be used to inspect parts by forming instant images of parts/products, analogous to x-ray images, using ultrasound which is non-ionizing and safe. Using the AO sensor-based inspection system, ultrasonic evaluation of military, aerospace, aircraft and helicopter platforms employing composite components/structures can be performed dramatically faster; ten times or greater speeds compared to traditional point-by-point ultrasonic inspection scanning methods. AO sensor technology is already being implemented to improve the inspection speed of commercial aircraft composite structures during manufacturing for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC). The technology has also been endorsed by a prime military contractor for use on composites, to replace conventional ultrasonic testing (UT) methods, wherever possible.The proposed Phase II project will work on perfecting and refining a field-portable AO sensor-based reflection mode ultrasonic nondestructive inspection (AO-RMU NDI) system so it can be: 1) Ready for commercialization; 2) Transitioned to US Army aviation field maintainers to evaluate aircraft/helicopter damage at dramatically faster speeds and with minimal training requirements; 3) Benefit Armys condition based maintenance (CBM) programs and 4) Aid in battle damage assessment and repair (BDA&R).