A tracking device that is mountable to a robot, the tracking device has a plurality of faces that contain marking indicia thereon that is used by an imaging apparatus to track the position of a robot. The robot is not required to be at a fixed location, and may have mobility features, such as drives that move the robot along a path of travel, surface, or in space. The tracking devices do not consume or require power to operate. A plurality of tracking devices may be installed on a robot and an imaging apparatus is used to image the field of view in which the robot operates. Discrete locations of the robot in real time or any point in time are ascertained through the positioning of the tracking device. Tracking devices may be installed on robots used for assembly or defect monitoring.

A dryness detection method of detecting dryness of a liquid resin composition containing a solvent. The dryness detection method includes a wavelength selection step of selecting a light absorption wavelength of the solvent, a light source selection step of selecting a light source that emits light including light of the selected wavelength, a light receiving step of applying the light that has been emitted from the light source to the liquid resin composition, and receiving light that has passed through the liquid resin composition, and a determination step of finding whether or not the light of the selected wavelength after absorption in the solvent in the light receiving step exceeds in quantity a predetermined threshold, and if the threshold is found to be exceeded, determining that the solvent has evaporated and the liquid resin composition has dried. A dryness determination apparatus is also disclosed.

A system for monitoring of the resin front during resin infusion into a fiber preform for the manufacturing of composites. Such monitoring is based on Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry by emitting light pulses through optic fibers which forms a resin infusion mesh in a fiber preform.

A method for in-line analysis of a composite product, wherein a hyperspectral sensor is used to acquire images of samples of target materials that are part of the composite product, in order to perform an in-line optical inspection at process speed.

A field deployable infrared imaging (FDIR) system and method for inspecting a composite component comprises a hand-held long-wave IR camera to capture a thermal image of the composite component, wherein the camera has an adjustable temperature control that captures an image with a 10 degree working range, a frame capture rate of at least 1 second for a length of time of not less than 90 seconds; and a processor for post-processing the thermal image using a second order derivative algorithm wherein the post-processed thermal image shows the defect better than the captured infrared image, and detects the one or more defects in the composite component.

A system and method for internally inspecting a tubular composite part so as to identify and measure adhesive flow therewithin are provided, along with an endpoint adapter assembly of a near infrared (NIR) spectrometer. The system includes an end point adapter that fits within and maintains a consistent cross-sectional position within the tubular composite part. The system also includes a plurality of optical fibers extending radially outward from the end point adapter. The end point adapter moves longitudinally through the tubular composite part and receives light with the plurality of optical fibers following interaction of the light with the tubular composite part. The system further includes a NIR imaging spectrometer configured to disperse the light being collected by the plurality of optical fibers across an NIR spectrum and a NIR camera configured to generate images of the tubular composite part based on dispersed light.

The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and an inspection method therefor, whereby tab folding and alignment of an electrode may be accurately checked. The electrode assembly, according to one embodiment, has a structure in which at least one unit cell is laminated, the unit cell having a structure of a first electrode/a separator/a second electrode/a separator/a third electrode, wherein the first electrode and the third electrode may each comprise a tab protruding toward the outer periphery of one side, and the second electrode may comprise a tab protruding toward the outer periphery of the other side facing the one side.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fiber-reinforced resin material having minimal directionality of strength as well as excellent productivity, a method and device for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin material whereby a molded article is obtained, and a device for inspecting a fiber bundle group. A method for manufacturing a sheet-shaped fiber-reinforced resin material in which a paste (P1) is impregnated between cut fiber bundles (CF), the method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin material including a coating step applying a coating of a paste (P1) on a first sheet (S11) conveyed in a predetermined direction, a cutting step for cutting a long fiber bundle (CF) using a cutter (113A), a scattering step for dispersing the cut fiber bundles (CF) and scattering the cut fiber bundles (CF) on the paste (P1), and an impregnation step for pressing a fiber bundle group (F1) and the paste (P1) on the first sheet (S11) and impregnating the paste (P1) between the fiber bundles (CF).

There is provided a quantitative method for determining a level of a sanding surface preparation of a carbon fiber composite surface, prior to the carbon fiber composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation. The quantitative method includes fabricating a ladder panel of levels of sanding correlating to an amount of sanding of sanding surface preparation standards for a reference carbon fiber composite surface of reference carbon fiber composite structure(s); using surface analysis tools to create target values for quantifying the levels of sanding; measuring, with the surface analysis tools, sanding surface preparation location(s) on the carbon fiber composite surface of a test carbon fiber composite structure, to obtain test result measurement(s); comparing the test result measurement(s) to the levels, to obtain test result level(s); determining if the test result level(s) meet the target values; and determining whether the carbon fiber composite surface is acceptable to proceed with the post-processing operation.

An example system includes a sensor housing defining a plurality of horizontal layers and a controller. The sensor housing includes a plurality of light-emitted diode (LED) light sources, a plurality of cameras, and a plurality of optical devices. Each camera of the plurality of cameras is positioned within a respective horizontal layer of the plurality of horizontal layers and configured to detect a respective range of wavelengths of light. The plurality of optical devices is configured to receive light reflected by the surface through a common input lens and direct the light to one of the cameras of the plurality of cameras depending on a wavelength of the light. The controller is configured to receive signals from the plurality of cameras indicative of the light reflected by the surface and determine whether there is any foreign object debris material on the surface using the signals from the plurality of cameras.