Multi-scale Interrogation, Location, and Characterization of Defects using Electro-Optic Techniques

ABSTRACT: High throughput quality control measurement methods are of critical importance for many fields, including agriculture, automobile manufacture, and the liquid crystal display industry. For instance, spectral imaging can quantify chemical identification and localization of compounds on surfaces. Meanwhile, polarimetric imaging can be used to quantify structural aspects of a surface, such as surface homogeneity related to roughness or intrinsic stress. The technology involved with this commercialization effort is focused on high-speed spectrally-resolved polarimetric imaging as applied to defect detection on exterior aircraft coatings. It is expected that defects, such as increased surface oxidization, cracking, or variations in surface roughness, can be attributed to quantifiable and repeatable changes in the spectropolarimetric reflectance of the surface. With the proposed technique, high speed automated detection of such defects can be spatially localized and relayed to technicians for repair, reducing costs and increasing the lifetime of aircraft parts and surfaces. BENEFIT: Control Vision, Inc. will develop a complete aircraft coatings defect inspection system for the drive-thru inspection of aircraft.