A system for inspecting a structure includes a laser ultrasound device configured to direct laser light onto a surface of the structure that generates ultrasonic waves within the structure and to generate an array of ultrasound data representative of the ultrasonic waves. The system includes a robotic arm configured to move the laser light across the surface. The system includes a multiplex controller configured to trigger generation of the ultrasonic waves within the structure at an inspection location and to receive the array of ultrasound data for the inspection location. The system includes a computer system that includes a motion-control module configured to control movement of the laser light relative to the surface of the structure, a motion-tracking module configured determine when the laser light is at the inspection location, and an inspection module configured to process the array of ultrasound data to inspect the structure at the inspection location.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for detecting and determining conditions of and conditions within a fluid conduit.

The present application describes a magneto-optical based guided waves system for inspection and monitoring of assets. The system has a magnetostrictive-based wave emitter for signal generation and a network of optical fiber sensors for detection, both mechanically coupled to the asset, a device with embedded software for hardware control and signal processing, and a framework capable of providing visual and analytic insights about the condition of the structure of interest. The enhancement of flaw detection, location and characterization abilities of the system are obtained through the use of high sensitivity and passive fiber optics sensors with very small size, distributed and multi-parameter sensing capabilities.

Examples of determining tuberculation in a fluid distribution system are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, an acoustical wave generator generates an acoustical wave within a fluid path of a fluid distribution system. A first acoustical sensor and a second acoustical sensor sense the acoustical wave. An acoustical signal analysis module determines an amount of tuberculation within the fluid distribution system by analyzing the sensed acoustical wave.

A method and apparatus for evaluating an object having a wrinkle are provided. An array of receiving elements is configured such that only two receiving apertures are configured to receive at a given point in time. Energy is sent into the object using an array of transmitting elements. Reflected energy is received at the only two receiving apertures of the array of receiving elements in response to a portion of the energy being reflected off a plurality of layers in the object. A number of dimensions of a wrinkle in the object is determined based on the reflected energy received at the only two receiving apertures of the array of receiving elements.

There is provided an alignment aid method of an ultrasonic transmitter implemented by means of an alignment aid system. The alignment aid system includes a receiver including a plurality of transducers each configured to receive an ultrasonic wave and convert it into a respective signal, and a processing unit configured to digitally process all the signals coming from the transducers, at least part of the transducers being arranged so as to form a first continuous row of transducers. The system also includes an alignment control device communicating with the processing unit, the alignment control device being configured to supply an indication about the transducer(s) receiving a single ultrasonic wave transmitted by said transmitter along the first row of transducers so as to enable the transmitter to be aligned in relation to the receiver.

A measuring device for non-mechanical-contact measurement of a layer, the measuring device including a light source operative to generate a pulse adapted to interact with the layer so as to generate a thermal wave in a gas medium present adjacent the layer. The thermal wave causes an acoustic signal to be generated. The measuring device further includes a detector adapted to detect a first signal responsive to the acoustic signal, the detector not being in mechanical contact with the layer. The first signal is representative of the measured layer.

A system for semiconductor manufacturing that uses ultrasonic waves for estimating and monitoring a remaining service lifetime of a consumable element is provided. A consumable element comprises a front side arranged inside a process chamber and a back side, opposite the front side, arranged outside the process chamber. An ultrasonic transducer is arranged on the back side of the consumable element, and directed towards the front side of the consumable element. A monitoring unit is configured to estimate and monitor a remaining service lifetime of the consumable element using the ultrasonic transducer. A method for estimating and monitoring the remaining service lifetime of the consumable element using ultrasonic waves is also provided.

Methods and systems for solving inverse problems arising in systems described by a physics-based forward propagation model use a Bayesian approach to model the uncertainty in the realization of model parameters. A Generative Adversarial Network (“GAN”) architecture along with heuristics and statistical learning is used. This results in a more reliable point estimate of the desired model parameters. In some embodiments, the disclosed methodology may be applied to automatic inversion of physics-based modeling of pipelines.

A noisemaker system includes: a node of an infrastructure system; and a noisemaker including a vibrating plate, the vibrating plate including a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the vibrating plate in contact with an exterior surface of the node, and an actuator configured to engage the top surface of the vibrating plate and generate an acoustic signal.