Název projektu:
PS: FP7 TunnelVision Robotics SME required to develop a robotic arm manipulator with four degrees of freedom (11 GB 41n7 3MPJ)
Popis:
A consortium being led by an East of England based research institute is looking for a Robotics SME for an FP7 Research for SMEs project. The objective of the project is to develop rapid, advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for mapping voids, lack of bonding and moisture behind or within tunnel linings and retaining walls. The SME will be required to develop a robotic manipulator arm with 4 degrees of freedom that will be placed in the inspection vehicle.
Periodic inspection of tunnels to assess changes in structural condition over time is critical to the timely detection and remediation of problems relating to structural integrity to ensure user safety (road, rail, pedestrian, waterway etc.). Tunnel structural problems considered widespread and
potentially serious are tunnel leaks, concrete cracking, concrete spalling, concrete delamination, steel corrosion, and drainage.
Monitoring of tunnel condition is key to determining the appropriate schedule of repair and maintenance to minimise the risk of accelerated deterioration and sudden tunnel failures that could not only impact on tunnel traffic flow but cause serious injury and even fatalities.
Tunnel inspection is a challenging problem. Road and rail tunnels (including underground rapid transit systems) typically service high-volume traffic and operate in aggressive environments. Keeping tunnels open during inspection and minimising tunnel closures and user delays must be carefully balanced with the need to conduct detailed inspections to ensure the safety of tunnel users.
Consequently, non-destructive testing techniques that are more automated, quantitative, rapid and provide continuous coverage compared with conventional visual inspections need to be identified, evaluated and developed for the specific application of tunnel testing. There are no commercially available rapid scan, non-destructive testing techniques for locating voids or moisture behind or within tunnel linings or to assess the bonding between tunnel linings and the outlying material. Nor is there
such technology available for retaining walls, so it is expected that any technology developed for tunnels can also be applied to retaining walls.
The objective of the proposed research is to develop high speed non-destructive testing techniques for locating voids and moisture behind or within tunnel linings and retaining walls and to assess the bonding between tunnel linings or retaining walls and the outlying material. It is proposed that the project include the development of the following NDT techniques specifically for on-site tunnel inspection. The test data from the four NDT techniques will be fused onto a 3D image map in order to simplify and improve the accuracy of defect detection and evaluation.
1. Capacitive Imaging technique that uses electrode arrays in non-contact mode to produce an AC electric field distribution within the material. Scanning the electrodes over the tunnel wall causes a change in the field distribution, and hence changes in output voltage due to moisture and defects.
2. Air-coupled, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): GPR techniques will be used to detect, size and identify the location of voids embedded and buried in the tunnel wall.
3. Acoustics technique: measurement of tunnel lining's vibration frequency and the amount of energy absorb when the wall is resonated will be carried out.
4. Low frequency (50 100 kHz) air-coupled ultrasonic 2D arrays for concrete testing.
Development work packages specific to Tunnel-Test applications will include the following:
" Establish experimental design criteria and defect detection levels for characterising voids, moisture, and bonding." Development and Verification of the four NDT techniques in characterizing voids, moisture and bonding with validation being carried out in the laboratory on representative tunnel test sections. Field trials will be carried out on tunnels representative of those in current operation." Implementation of the NDT sensing technologies. This phase will provide for information dissemination and exchange to make users aware of the new developments. It will include tasks to provide training on the technologies developed.
Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
The TunnelVision proposal is due to be submitted for the Capacities Research for the benefit of SMEs funding programme which has a deadline of December 6th 2011.
An SME active in Robotics is required to develop a robotic manipulator arm with four degrees of freedom that will be placed in the inspection vehicle and will hold the NDT inspection head. The project is due to last for 2 years and total funding and partner funding levels will be discussed directly.
Periodic inspection of tunnels to assess changes in structural condition over time is critical to the timely detection and remediation of problems relating to structural integrity to ensure user safety (road, rail, pedestrian, waterway etc.). Tunnel structural problems considered widespread and
potentially serious are tunnel leaks, concrete cracking, concrete spalling, concrete delamination, steel corrosion, and drainage.
Monitoring of tunnel condition is key to determining the appropriate schedule of repair and maintenance to minimise the risk of accelerated deterioration and sudden tunnel failures that could not only impact on tunnel traffic flow but cause serious injury and even fatalities.
Tunnel inspection is a challenging problem. Road and rail tunnels (including underground rapid transit systems) typically service high-volume traffic and operate in aggressive environments. Keeping tunnels open during inspection and minimising tunnel closures and user delays must be carefully balanced with the need to conduct detailed inspections to ensure the safety of tunnel users.
Consequently, non-destructive testing techniques that are more automated, quantitative, rapid and provide continuous coverage compared with conventional visual inspections need to be identified, evaluated and developed for the specific application of tunnel testing. There are no commercially available rapid scan, non-destructive testing techniques for locating voids or moisture behind or within tunnel linings or to assess the bonding between tunnel linings and the outlying material. Nor is there
such technology available for retaining walls, so it is expected that any technology developed for tunnels can also be applied to retaining walls.
The objective of the proposed research is to develop high speed non-destructive testing techniques for locating voids and moisture behind or within tunnel linings and retaining walls and to assess the bonding between tunnel linings or retaining walls and the outlying material. It is proposed that the project include the development of the following NDT techniques specifically for on-site tunnel inspection. The test data from the four NDT techniques will be fused onto a 3D image map in order to simplify and improve the accuracy of defect detection and evaluation.
1. Capacitive Imaging technique that uses electrode arrays in non-contact mode to produce an AC electric field distribution within the material. Scanning the electrodes over the tunnel wall causes a change in the field distribution, and hence changes in output voltage due to moisture and defects.
2. Air-coupled, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): GPR techniques will be used to detect, size and identify the location of voids embedded and buried in the tunnel wall.
3. Acoustics technique: measurement of tunnel lining's vibration frequency and the amount of energy absorb when the wall is resonated will be carried out.
4. Low frequency (50 100 kHz) air-coupled ultrasonic 2D arrays for concrete testing.
Development work packages specific to Tunnel-Test applications will include the following:
" Establish experimental design criteria and defect detection levels for characterising voids, moisture, and bonding." Development and Verification of the four NDT techniques in characterizing voids, moisture and bonding with validation being carried out in the laboratory on representative tunnel test sections. Field trials will be carried out on tunnels representative of those in current operation." Implementation of the NDT sensing technologies. This phase will provide for information dissemination and exchange to make users aware of the new developments. It will include tasks to provide training on the technologies developed.
Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
The TunnelVision proposal is due to be submitted for the Capacities Research for the benefit of SMEs funding programme which has a deadline of December 6th 2011.
An SME active in Robotics is required to develop a robotic manipulator arm with four degrees of freedom that will be placed in the inspection vehicle and will hold the NDT inspection head. The project is due to last for 2 years and total funding and partner funding levels will be discussed directly.
Požadavky na partnera:
Requested Cooperation: Joint further development
An SME active in Robotics is required to develop a robotic manipulator arm with four degrees of freedom that will be placed in the inspection vehicle and will hold the NDT inspection head.
An SME active in Robotics is required to develop a robotic manipulator arm with four degrees of freedom that will be placed in the inspection vehicle and will hold the NDT inspection head.
