The present apparatus is configured to carry an instrument or probe and optionally deploy it against a surface, such as a metal pipeline or storage tank. The apparatus can include a sensor probe for inspecting the integrity of the surface and a first linkage that is operatively coupled to the sensor probe and configured to move the sensor probe according to a first path (in a first direction/first degree of freedom). An actuator can be operatively connected to the first linkage for moving the first linkage so as to move the sensor probe along the first path. A second linkage is operatively connected to the sensor probe and configured to passively move the sensor probe according to a second degree of freedom to cause the sensor probe to become normal to the surface when at least a portion of the apparatus contacts the surface.

A method is provided for estimating a road surface condition by accurately determining whether or not there has been any large input to a tire without increasing the number of sensors. An acceleration sensor is disposed on the tire to detect the vibration of the tire in motion. The positions of leading end point and trailing end point of tire contact patch are estimated from the peak positions appearing in the time-variable waveform of the vibration. At the same time, the contact time, extra-contact time, and revolution time of the tire are calculated from the estimated positions of leading end point and trailing end point. Then using one or more of the calculated data, it is determined whether or not the estimated positions of leading end point and trailing end point are equal to the actual positions of leading end point and trailing end point. And if the result of the leading and trailing position determination is incorrect estimation, the estimation of a road surface condition is not performed.

An inspection system for determining the efficacy and veracity of a bond-line, comprising: a robotic arm assembly providing a gimbal mount for enabling linear and rotary translation about multiple axes; an ultrasonic transducer affixed to the gimbal mount of the robotic arm assembly and comprising a planar array of transducer elements, each transducer element capable of transmitting and receiving reflected ultrasonic energy indicative of changes in acoustic impedance within the bond-line. The reflected energy of each transducer element provides acquired bond-line data indicative of the efficacy of the bond-line while select transducer elements produce orientation data indicative of the orientation of the planar array relative to the contour of the bonded joint. The bond-line and orientation data are combined to determine whether the direction of the transmitted pulse should be altered to validate the bond-line data.

The present apparatus is configured to carry an instrument or probe and optionally deploy it against a surface, such as a metal pipeline or storage tank. The apparatus can include a sensor probe for inspecting the integrity of the surface and a first linkage that is operatively coupled to the sensor probe and configured to move the sensor probe according to a first path (in a first direction/first degree of freedom). An actuator can be operatively connected to the first linkage for moving the first linkage so as to move the sensor probe along the first path. A second linkage is operatively connected to the sensor probe and configured to passively move the sensor probe according to a second degree of freedom to cause the sensor probe to become normal to the surface when at least a portion of the apparatus contacts the surface.

Provided is a device and method of determining the thickness of accumulating scale on surfaces exposed to a liquid media. More particularly, it is a method for determining the comparable accumulation of scale such as, calcium or magnesium and carbonate, oxalate, sulfate, or phosphate scale, on cold or hot surfaces in water process applications.

Provided is a device and method of determining the thickness of accumulating scale on surfaces exposed to a liquid media. More particularly, it is a method for determining the comparable accumulation of scale such as, calcium or magnesium and carbonate, oxalate, sulfate, or phosphate scale, on cold or hot surfaces in water process applications.

There is provided a method for evaluating the cleanliness of a steel material by an ultrasonic flaw detection method enabling rapid acquisition of highly reliable data. Ultrasonic flaw detection is performed to detect a flaw in at least one part in the range of 90% or more and 100% or less of a steel material (for example, round bar 2) at a radial position where the center of the steel material is set as 0% and the surface is set as 100%, and then the cleanliness is evaluated based on the dimension and the number of inclusions in the steel material obtained by the ultrasonic flaw detection.

A system for detecting damage to a glass surface particularly vehicle glazing panels such as vehicle windscreens. The system uses a sensor unit disposed proximate the surface and a processor in communication with the sensor unit. The processor is configured to analyse data received from the sensor unit in order to determine the integrity of the surface and a communication unit is configured to output a signal in response to the processor determining that the surface has been damaged. For vehicle glass the system is preferably integrated into the vehicle management and control systems such that the system is active when the vehicle is active or moving. The management and or control system may monitor for instances or situations when changes, such as above threshold changes, occur in order to produce an output warning signal.

A method is provided for estimating a road surface condition by accurately determining whether or not there has been any large input to a tire without increasing the number of sensors. An acceleration sensor is disposed on the tire to detect the vibration of the tire in motion. The positions of leading end point and trailing end point of tire contact patch are estimated from the peak positions appearing in the time-variable waveform of the vibration. At the same time, the contact time, extra-contact time, and revolution time of the tire are calculated from the estimated positions of leading end point and trailing end point. Then using one or more of the calculated data, it is determined whether or not the estimated positions of leading end point and trailing end point are equal to the actual positions of leading end point and trailing end point. And if the result of the leading and trailing position determination is incorrect estimation, the estimation of a road surface condition is not performed.

A system includes an acoustic exciter that is configured to be supported by a platform. The acoustic exciter includes a plurality of excitation elements that rotate about an axis of rotation to cause acoustic excitation of a substrate via contact with the substrate. The acoustic exciter is repositionable relative to the platform to alter an excitation path that is applied to the substrate by the excitation elements. The system further includes a sensor that is configured to sense an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation.