A system includes an inspection robot for performing an inspection on an inspection surface with an inspection robot, the apparatus comprising a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret inspection data, and to correlate the inspection data to the inspection robot position on the inspection surface; and wherein the data positioning circuit is further structured to determine position informed inspection data in response to the correlating of the inspection data with the inspection robot position, wherein the position informed inspection data comprises absolute position data.

A multi-probe system for real-time measurement of a fluid level in a pipe with steady-state and turbulent flow conditions is presented. The multi-probe system includes a plurality of multiplexed transducers attached in a non-destructive fashion to walls of the pipe. Multiplexing of the transducers activate and deactivate the transducers in sequence to generate independent pairs of transmit and receive wave signals through the pipe. Each transmit and receive signal pair can be used to independently establish a time-of-flight from the transducer and back to the transducer as reflected by a surface of the fluid. The transducers can be arranged as longitudinal and/or circumferential arrays on the walls of the pipe. An algorithm that determines the time-of-flight eliminates received signals having an energy level lower than or equal to a predefined minimum energy level and eliminates any time-of-flight that is shorter than a minimum threshold time.

A system includes an inspection robot having mounted sleds, and a number of sensors each mounted to a sled. A couplant chamber is disposed within at least two of the sleds, each couplant chamber between a transducer of the sensor and an inspection surface. Each couplant chamber includes a cone, the cone having a cone tip portion at an inspection surface end, and a sensor mounting end opposite the cone tip portion. A couplant entry for each couplant chamber is at a vertically upper side of the cone in the intended orientation of the inspection robot on the inspection surface.

Described are various embodiments of an ultrasonic structural health monitoring device, system and method. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic structural health monitoring device is described to monitor a structure. The device comprises a bottom electrode disposable on the structure; a piezoelectric medium disposed on the bottom electrode; a top electrode disposed on the piezoelectric medium; an acoustic insulation layer; and a connector to bring electrical excitation for the piezoelectric medium and to collect a generated electric response therefrom representative of structural health.

A system includes an inspection robot for performing an inspection on an inspection surface with ultrasonic and magnetic induction sensors, the apparatus comprising a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret inspection data, and to correlate the inspection data to the inspection robot position on the inspection surface; and wherein the data positioning circuit is further structured to determine position informed inspection data in response to the correlating of the inspection data with the inspection robot position.

A method for nondestructive inspection of a component, the method includes determining a first pulse-echo scan from a first side of a component; determining a second pulse-echo scan from a second side of the component; determining a through-transmission scan based on the, first pulse-echo scan, the second pulse-echo scan, and a model of the component, the model comprises a rigid internal structure of the component; and classifying the component based on comparing the through-transmission scan to a gold model.

A method and an apparatus for scanning a test object are introduced. A reference object is scanned to build a gain correction map including gain values for scanning points on a surface of the reference object. The test object is also scanned to obtain measurements for scanning points on a surface of the test object. Amplitudes of the measurements obtained for the scanning points on the surface of the test object are normalized using the gain values of the gain correction map. The apparatus has a probe mounted on a mechanical scanner, and a controller controlling the scanning and normalizing operations. The method and apparatus can be used to create an image of the test object for non-destructive testing.

An apparatus for scanning a test object scans a reference object to build a gain correction map including gain values for scanning points on a surface of the reference object. The test object is also scanned to obtain measurements for scanning points on a surface of the test object. Amplitudes of the measurements obtained for the scanning points on the surface of the test object are normalized using the gain values of the gain correction map. The apparatus has a probe mounted on a mechanical scanner, and a controller controlling the scanning and normalizing operations. The apparatus can be used to create an image of the test object for non-destructive testing.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for acoustic inspection of a surface are described. An example system may include an inspection robot structured to traverse an inspection surface in a direction of travel. The inspection robot may include a payload having a plurality of arms, connected to the inspection robot, to rotate around respective ones of a plurality of axes while the inspection robot traverses the inspection surface, where each of the plurality of axes is in the direction of travel. A plurality of sleds may be connected to the plurality of arms, and a plurality of inspection sensors connected to the plurality of sleds. The plurality of inspection sensors may be spaced apart from each other at adjustable positions to inspect the inspection surface at an adjustable resolution.

An assembly for determining a type of a fluid, the assembly configured to be mounted to a tank containing the fluid, comprises an ultrasound sending/receiving subassembly and a processor module. The ultrasound sending/receiving subassembly is configured to send a plurality of ultrasound signals into the fluid and receive the ultrasound signals reflected from the fluid. An ultrasound signal of the plurality of ultrasound signals has at least a first frequency and a second frequency different from the first frequency. The processor module is adapted to determine an attenuation of the ultrasound signal at the first frequency and at the second frequency.