Systems and methods are provided for selectively utilizing ultrasound data to quantify a part being scanned. One embodiment is a system that includes an ultrasonic wave generator configured to induce ultrasonic waves at locations along a part being scanned, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the ultrasonic wave generator to collect data points that each indicate amplitude data and time-of-flight data of an ultrasonic wave at the part, to calculate a standard deviation of the time-of-flight data of the data points (.sub.tof), to utilize the amplitude data to quantify the part if .sub.tof is less than a threshold value, and to flag the data points in memory as including noise if .sub.tof is greater than the threshold value.

Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for sensing as impact on a vehicle based on an acoustic sensor and an acceleration sensor. The method of sensing an impact on a vehicle may include obtaining information related to an impact sound generated in the vehicle of a user and around the vehicle of the user through an acoustic sensor, obtaining information related to an impact applied to the vehicle of the user through an impact detection sensor, and determining an impact sound directly generated in the vehicle of the user based on the information related to the impact sound and the information related to the impact.

A method and device for processing an echo signal received from an acoustic sensor. The echo signal is detected over a measurement time interval. A minimum value is ascertained, which describes a minimum amplitude of the echo signal within the measurement interval. An amplitude value is ascertained, which describes an amplitude of the echo signal within a measurement window. The measurement window is a predefined time interval within the measurement interval. A difference is ascertained between the minimum value and the amplitude value. A determination is made whether the echo signal comprises an interference signal of the first type or an interference signal of the second type, based on the ascertained difference.

An inspection device inspects a joint-type outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint that includes a cup section having a bottomed cylindrical shape and track grooves in an inner periphery thereof for torque transmitting elements, and a shaft section extending from a bottom of the cup section. The inspection device inspects the outer joint member, which is obtained through melt-welding on a cup member forming the cup section and a shaft member forming the shaft section. The inspection device includes a surface inspection unit to inspect for a defect which appears on a surface of the outer joint member due to welding, an internal inspection unit to inspect for an internal defect of a welded portion, and a recording unit to record an inspection result of the inspection. The inspection device is configured to efficiently perform in-line total inspection for the melt-welded joint-type outer joint member.

A railway track defect detection system may include a mobile defect detection platform and a modal parameter analyzer. The platform may include an excitation mechanism (e.g., an excitation hammer or wheels that are in contact with a railway track) to apply multiple impact forces to the railway track while the platform travels along the railway track, and a laser Doppler vibrometer to capture, while the platform travels along the railway track, vibration data representing vibrations of the railway track caused by application of the multiple impact forces by the excitation mechanism. The modal parameter analyzer may be configured to detect, based on the vibration data captured by the laser Doppler vibrometer, a defect in the railway track. For example, changes in vibration amplitudes, mode shapes, damping ratios, or a natural frequency derived from the received vibration data may indicate the presence of a defect in the railway track.

A method for examining the raceway of a large roller bearing in a wind turbine, in which a raceway of the large roller bearing is measured using an ultrasonic measuring unit mounted on the bearing housing, wherein the ultrasonic measuring unit detects two edges of the raceway and the relative position and/or formation thereof in relation to one another is measured.

A method for classifying an emission includes generating a first acoustic profile at a first acoustic sensor; generating a second acoustic profile at a second acoustic sensor; comparing the first acoustic profile to a first reference acoustic profile to generate a first difference; comparing the second acoustic profile to a second reference acoustic profile to generate a second difference; and classifying the emission as one of a hazardous emission or a non-hazardous emission in response to the first difference and the second difference.

A computer and an automatic protection method thereof are provided. The automatic protection method includes the following steps. A sound receiving unit of the computer receives a sound signal. Whether a fan error event occurs is determined according to the sound signal. If the fan error event occurs, then a first data protection procedure is performed. Whether a disaster event occurs is determined according to the sound signal. If the disaster event occurs, then a second data protection procedure is performed. Whether the computer is at a locking status is determined. If the computer is at the locking status, then whether an information security hazard event occurs is determined according to the sound signal. If the information security hazard event occurs, then a third data protection procedure is performed.

An inspection support system comprising: determination devices that determine pass or fail based on a result of non-destructive inspection of the object; and a learning device that learns a determination algorithm used to determine pass or fail based on information collected from the determination devices. The determination device transmits an ultimate determination result yielded by an inspection person who has checked a determination result to the learning device along with the corresponding result of non-destructive inspection of the object. The learning device includes: a determination result reception unit that receives the ultimate determination result and the result of non-destructive inspection of the inspection object; a learning unit that learns the determination algorithm based on received information; and a provision unit that provides the learned determination algorithm to the determination devices.

Various embodiments relating to resonance inspections and in-service parts are disclosed. One protocol (150) includes conducting a resonance inspection of an in-service part (152). The frequency response of the in-service part may be compared with a resonance standard (154) for purposes of determining whether or not the in-service part is changing abnormally (156). An in-service part that is identified as changing abnormally may be characterized as being rejected (160). An in-service part that is no identified as changing abnormally may be characterized as being accepted (158).