Robotic platforms and methods of use are disclosed that include: at least one robot or robotic device, at least one computer-based control system, wherein the system is at least in part located on the at least one robot, at least one communications system, wherein the communications system is designed to communicate between the computer-based control system and the at least one robot, and at least one evaluation system that is designed to implement and process at least one nondestructive testing method.

A method for estimating the state of wear of a plain bearing comprises: establishing a time profile of at least one friction event from a structure borne noise signal by a mathematical friction event model, determination of a measure, which characterizes at least one friction event based on a time duration of the at least one friction event, the amplitude of the at least one friction event and/or an integral measure over the at least one friction event, combination of the measure, accumulated over time, with an angle indication for the at least one friction event at the circumference of the plain bearing in order to determine a spatially resolved wear model of the plain bearing, wherein the spatially resolved wear model is obtained by an estimating filter, and outputting a signal in accordance with the wear model to characterize the state of wear.

A characterization device for non-destructively characterizing a material includes emitter/receiver cells, each cell being able, in an emit mode, to emit ultrasound waves towards the material for characterizing, and, in a receive mode, to receive ultrasound waves that have been transmitted through the material. The non-destructive characterization device includes a ring made up of a plurality of adjacent angular sectors, each angular sector including ultrasound cells stacked in a radial direction of the ring.

A method and apparatus for inspecting a fusion joint is provided. The apparatus includes a processor, an ultrasound (US) probe in communication with the processor, and a database comprising classification rules. The processor is configured to generate an initial set of US scanning positions about the fusion joint based on information of at least one of the US probe and the fusion joint; measure, via the US probe, a US pulse-echo spectrum from at least two of the initial US scanning positions; compare each measured US pulse-echo spectrum with one or more known US pulse-echo spectrums; classify each measured US pulse-echo spectrum according to the classification rules; and evaluate an aggregate of measured US pulse-echo spectrums to determine if the fusion joint is defective.

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 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.

Vibration data indicative of the health of a machine is collected using a vibration sensor connected to a portable vibration data collector. After the vibration sensor has been attached to a measurement point on the machine, vibration data is collected over a measurement time period having a begin time and an end time, and the vibration data is stored in memory of the portable vibration data collector. First and second average amplitudes of the vibration data collected during first and second time windows in the measurement time period are determined. The slope of the vibration data is calculated based on the ratio of the amplitude difference between the first and second average amplitudes and the time difference between the first and second time windows. The vibration data is either retained in the memory or discarded based on the comparison of the slope to a threshold level.

A ground engaging member that engages a work material to dig into the work material includes a member body extending from a leading end to a trailing end, the member body having an internal surface defining a cavity therein, the cavity having a concavity that faces away from the leading end along a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction extending from the leading end to the trailing end; and a first wear sensing body embedded in the member body between the cavity and the leading end along the longitudinal direction. The member body is fabricated from a ground engaging tool (GET) body material having a GET body material density. The first wear sensing body is fabricated from a wear sensing body material having a wear sensing body material density that is not equal to the GET body material density.

At least one baseline structural interrogation of a physical structure is performed in one or more corresponding baseline conditions of the structure. The one or more baseline conditions are stored, and one or more current conditions are sensed. It is determined whether a difference between the one or more current conditions and the one or more baseline conditions satisfies at least one threshold deviation criterion. A current structural interrogation of the structure is performed in response to determining that the difference between the one or more current conditions and the one or more baseline conditions satisfies the least one threshold deviation criterion. An indication that the at least one threshold deviation criterion is not satisfied is output in response to determining that that the difference between the one or more current conditions and the one or more baseline conditions does not satisfy the at least one threshold deviation criterion.

An apparatus comprises an acoustic sensing system and an analyzer module. The acoustic sensing system is positioned relative to an object, wherein the acoustic sensing system detects acoustic emissions and generates acoustic waveform data for the acoustic emissions detected. The analyzer module is implemented in a computer system that receives load data and the acoustic waveform data for the object, generates a plurality of frequency distribution functions using the acoustic waveform data, and generates a frequency distribution function time evolution image containing a plurality of points of each of the plurality of frequency distribution functions.