Portable 3D Corrosion Detector for inspecting Aircraft Structures with Complex Geometries.

Photon-X is pleased to propose the next generation of corrosion detection devices to assist the Navy achieve its goal of reducing the impact of corrosion of aircraft maintenance cost. Our technology is an innovative integration of Spatial Phase Imaging (SPI) applied to both high-resolution video imaging and Terahertz (THz) imaging that captures full 3D volumetric analytical information of both surface and subsurface corrosion. The proposed detector is highly sensitive to submicron size defects such as corrosion in early stages much more effectively than any current technology. It will also provide quantitative volumetric data of corrosion location and severity. Each of the two technologies has been developed for other applications and has been proven to be very strong technology. We will measure the complex 3D geometries of the part and the small deformations that will occur on the surface and under layers of paint at the submicron level on the part. The system can be developed into a portable cost effective method to detect corrosion in critical parts before catastrophic failure. This proposed effort will determine the feasibility of integrating these technologies and establish a small handheld cost efficient corrosion detector and determine a path forward towards a Phase II effort.