Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.

A method and an LWIR imaging system for detecting an amorphous and/or crystalline structure of phosphate and/or sulphate salts on the surface of a substrate or within a substrate are described. The method comprises the steps of i) providing an LWIR imaging system, the LWIR imaging system comprising a) an infrared light emitting source (A) that emits over the whole range of 8 to 14 micrometers, b) an LWIR detecting device (B) and c) a ToF distance sensor (C), ii) providing a substrate comprising an amorphous and/or crystalline structure of phosphate and/or sulphate salts on the surface of the substrate or within the substrate, ii) irradiating the provided substrate with the infrared light emitting source and iii) detecting, with the LWIR detecting device and using and/or based on the TOF distance sensor, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation scattered, emitted and/or reflected by the substrate and the amorphous and/or crystalline structure of phosphate and/or sulphate salts.

A method assess the quality of varnished wood surfaces. The method includes the following steps: a) creating a brightness map of the surface, b) creating a curvature map of the surface, c) ascertaining a cross-correlation of brightness map and curvature map, and d) evaluating the result of the cross-correlation to ascertain the proportion of the irregularities of the surface to be attributed to varnish flaws.

A method for illumination of an object to be observed to be observed and the background, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a relationship between wavelength and spectral radiance of the object while the object and the background are illuminated by a first light source that emits light that has a continuous spectrum in the wavelength range from 380 nanometers and 780 nanometers, and determining a value of representative wavelength that corresponds to a maximum value of the spectral radiance of the object plotted against wavelength or values of representative wavelength that correspond to maximum values of the spectral radiance of the object plotted against wavelength; determining a value or values of comparative wavelength; and illuminating the object and the background with light of the value or values of representative wavelength and light of the value or values of comparative wavelength.

A weld inspection apparatus that detects a weld defect in a welded portion of metal plates and includes a liquid application head disposed over one side surface of the metal plates and capable of moving in a welding direction of the metal plates, and an air jet head disposed over another side surface of the metal plates and capable of moving in the welding direction of the metal plates. The liquid application head includes a liquid application nozzle that projects toward the one side surface of the metal plates and applies liquid for sealing the welded portion. The air jet head includes an air jet nozzle that projects toward the another side surface of the metal plates and discharges air toward the welded portion to which the liquid has been applied.

A weld inspection apparatus that detects a weld defect in a welded portion of metal plates and includes a liquid application head disposed over one side surface of the metal plates and capable of moving in a welding direction of the metal plates, and an air jet head disposed over another side surface of the metal plates and capable of moving in the welding direction of the metal plates. The liquid application head includes a liquid application nozzle that projects toward the one side surface of the metal plates and applies liquid for sealing the welded portion. The air jet head includes an air jet nozzle that projects toward the another side surface of the metal plates and discharges air toward the welded portion to which the liquid has been applied.

The coordinate system fixing unit uses the displacement of an object under measurement between photographed images in chronological order to generate fixed-coordinate chronological images. The displacement calculation unit uses the fixed-coordinate chronological images to calculate a two-dimensional spatial distribution of the displacement of the surface of the object under measurement. The displacement difference calculation unit calculates a two-dimensional displacement difference distribution by removing an error component from the two-dimensional spatial distribution. The depth movement amount calculation unit calculates a depth movement amount from the two-dimensional displacement difference distribution. The displacement separation unit calculates in-plane displacement from the two-dimensional displacement difference distribution. The determination unit uses the in-plane displacement and/or the depth movement amount to determine whether there is an abnormality in the object under measurement.

An optical sensing device includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor and a fourth sensor for sensing light to generate a first sensing signal, a second sensing signal, a third sensing signal and a fourth sensing signal, respectively. A spectrum of a coating of the first sensor includes a first peak of a X spectrum. A spectrum of a coating of the second sensor includes a second peak of the X spectrum. A spectrum of a coating of the third sensor includes a Y spectrum. A spectrum of a coating of the fourth sensor includes a Z spectrum. The first sensing signal and the second sensing signal are used to determine a X output value. The third sensing signal and the fourth sensing signal are used to determine a Y output value and a Z output value, respectively.

An optical sensing device includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor and a fourth sensor for sensing light to generate a first sensing signal, a second sensing signal, a third sensing signal and a fourth sensing signal, respectively. A spectrum of a coating of the first sensor includes a first peak of a X spectrum. A spectrum of a coating of the second sensor includes a second peak of the X spectrum. A spectrum of a coating of the third sensor includes a Y spectrum. A spectrum of a coating of the fourth sensor includes a Z spectrum. The first sensing signal and the second sensing signal are used to determine a X output value. The third sensing signal and the fourth sensing signal are used to determine a Y output value and a Z output value, respectively.

A processor of the inspection support device acquires an image obtained by imaging a structure to be inspected and detects damage to the structure on the basis of the acquired image. In a case where two or more types of damage (cracking B and linear free lime C.sub.2) to the structure are detected, the processor determines whether or not two or more types of damage are detected from the same or adjacent positions. In a case where determination is made that the cracking B and the linear free lime C.sub.2 are detected from the same or adjacent positions when the processor outputs the damage detection result (a damage image, a damage diagram, and the like), the processor preferentially outputs a damage detection result of the linear free lime C.sub.2 in accordance with a priority of a damage type (FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B).