Automatic surface defect detection system
Introduction
AlpSDDS is a tool that automates visual inspection, through the use of Artificial Intelligence. Surface defects, due to their variability in appearance and complexity, are not identifiable through normal uniquely defined logical criteria such as shape, coloration, or extent. Hence the need to resort to a computational model based on “artificial neurons” that reflect the learning processes characteristic of the human brain. The system recognizes the presence of defects on the surface of moving materials, locates their position along product development to enable automatic placements in identified areas, and makes defect details available for statistical, process and quality analyses.
Key features
Based on Artificial Intelligence
Modular system, inspects 1 to 4 surfaces
Use on products with temperatures up to 1200° C
High speed of the material to be inspected
Minimum defect size
Real-time communication to automation and plant supervision systems
Data historicization on database and image archiving
System architecture
AlpSDDS-H: Products with surface temperatures greater than 750 °C. The instrumentation is housed inside reinforced, liquid-cooled protective enclosures. The emissivity of the high-temperature material is exploited as a natural light source, making the use of illuminators unnecessary. Perpendicularity between the camera and the product surface is required as far as possible. Recommended is the use of a pyrometer or thermal imaging camera to detect the actual surface temperature of the material and dynamically manage the exposure time in image acquisition.
AlpSDDS-C: Products with surface temperatures less than 750 °C. The instrumentation is installed inside a protective enclosure where two cameras and two illuminators are located in order to ensure acquisition under controlled and repeatable conditions. It is installed in an elevated position at a transit point of the handling system on which the material is housed.
User interface
Basic version: The basic version has view-only functionality. The system automatically presents in sequence (for each of the installed cameras) the sequence of images in which defects were detected. Colored bars depict the development in length of the inspected material and the summary of the types of defects and respective quantities detected are given in summary form.
Advanced version: The advanced version allows interaction with the images acquired by the system. The interface allows individual selection of frame sets and entry of annotations on the type/location of any defects present.
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