Automated image inspection system to quantify thermal spray splat morphology

Validation and evaluation of medical image processing procedures: Requirements for a Grid-enabled platform

Introduction Relaxometry images are an important magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique in the clinical routine. Many diagnoses are based on the relaxometry maps to infer abnormal state in the tissue characteristic relaxation constant. In order to study the performance of these image processing approaches, a controlled simulated environment is necessary. However, a simulated relaxometry image tool is still lacking. This study proposes a computational anatomical brain phantom for MRI relaxometry images, which aims to offer an easy and flexible toolkit to test different image processing techniques, applied to MRI relaxometry maps in a controlled simulated environment. Methods A pipeline of image processing techniques such as brain extraction, image segmentation, normalization to a common space and signal relaxation decay simulation, were applied to a brain structural ICBM brain template, on both T1 and T2 weighted images, in order to simulate a volumetric brain relaxometry phantom. The FMRIB Software Library (FSL) toolkits were used here as the base image processing needed to all the relaxometry reconstruction. Results All the image processing procedures are performed using automatic algorithms. In addition, different artefact levels can be set from different sources such as Rician noise and radio-frequency inhomogeneity noises. Conclusion The main goal of this project is to help researchers in their future image processing analysis involving MRI relaxometry images, offering reliable and robust brain relaxometry simulation modelling. Furthermore, the entire pipeline is open-source, which provides a wide collaboration between researchers who may want to improve the software and its functionality.

White balance in inspection systems with a neural network

Radiation imaging, as a key issue in nuclear technology, has received considerable attention in the industry. It is widely used in nuclear medicine, Customs supervision, and many other areas. The objective of this investigation is to get insight into the principle, operation characteristics and image characteristics of radiation imaging. In this paper, an investigation on radiation imaging is conducted on three main inspection systems for Customs supervision, including small X-ray inspection machine, CT baggage inspection system, and large container inspection system. The principle, operation characteristics, evaluation indexes, pseudo-color processing and image characteristics are discussed in detail. The results indicate that the spatial resolution of small X-ray inspection machine is much higher than that of CT baggage/goods inspection system and large container/vehicle inspection system. It is a challenge to identify substances and specific shapes in the case of overlapping for small X-ray inspection system. Moreover, the mechanism of X-ray images is discussed as well. The radiation images are divided into three types, including two-dimensional, pseudo-color, high spatial resolution; two-dimensional, gray, high spatial resolution; three-dimensional, pseudo-color, high density resolution. The further investigation on machine inspection images is suggested to focus on the application environment. For some objects with specific characteristics, such as amorphous, explosive, the CT baggage inspection has much better performance than other systems. The research in this paper reveals the mechanism, parametric effect and imaging characteristics. It could provide a necessary foundation for the follow-up intelligent processing, detection, identification and annotation for radiation imaging in nuclear area. The research on inspection devices could lend strong experience to medical treatment, industry and many other fields.

Defect detectability using electron-beam (EB) inspection for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask was investigated by comparing a projection electron microscope (PEM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) inspection system. The detectability with EB does not coincide with the printability data because the contrasts of the EUV aerial image and EB image for EUV mask are reversed. The 16-nm-sized defect on a half-pitch 64-nm line and space (L/S) pattern is detected even when the line edge roughness is taken into account in both PEM and SEM inspections by applying a special algorithm for image processing. The required and robust inspection conditions, such as the number of electrons per pixel and pixel size (resolution), were examined for an SEM inspection system. The throughput of the PEM inspection system corresponds to that of the multibeam SEM one with 200 to 1850 beams.

PurposeHeritage is the latent part of a sustainable built environment. Conservation and preservation of heritage is one of the United Nations' (UN) sustainable development goals. Many social and natural factors seriously threaten heritage structures by deteriorating and damaging the original. Therefore, regular visual inspection of heritage structures is necessary for their conservation and preservation. Conventional inspection practice relies on manual inspection, which takes more time and human resources. The inspection system seeks an innovative approach that should be cheaper, faster, safer and less prone to human error than manual inspection. Therefore, this study aims to develop an automatic system of visual inspection for the built heritage.Design/methodology/approachThe artificial intelligence-based automatic defect detection system is developed using the faster R-CNN (faster region-based convolutional neural network) model of object detection to build an automatic visual inspection system. From the English and Dutch cemeteries of Surat (India), images of heritage structures were captured by digital camera to prepare the image data set. This image data set was used for training, validation and testing to develop the automatic defect detection model. While validating this model, its optimum detection accuracy is recorded as 91.58% to detect three types of defects: “spalling,” “exposed bricks” and “cracks.”FindingsThis study develops the model of automatic web-based visual inspection systems for the heritage structures using the faster R-CNN. Then it demonstrates detection of defects of spalling, exposed bricks and cracks existing in the heritage structures. Comparison of conventional (manual) and developed automatic inspection systems reveals that the developed automatic system requires less time and staff. Therefore, the routine inspection can be faster, cheaper, safer and more accurate than the conventional inspection method.Practical implicationsThe study presented here can improve inspecting the built heritages by reducing inspection time and cost, eliminating chances of human errors and accidents and having accurate and consistent information. This study attempts to ensure the sustainability of the built heritage.Originality/valueFor ensuring the sustainability of built heritage, this study presents the artificial intelligence-based methodology for the development of an automatic visual inspection system. The automatic web-based visual inspection system for the built heritage has not been reported in previous studies so far.

Defect detectability using electron beam (EB) inspection for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask was investigated by comparing a projection electron microscope (PEM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) inspection system. The detectability with EB does not coincide with the printability data because the contrasts of EUV aerial image and EB image for EUV mask are reversed. The detectability for 16 nm sized defect on a half pitch 64 nm line and space pattern is acceptable under 2-nm-line edge roughness (LER) (3 sigma) in both PEM and SEM inspections by applying a special algorithm for image processing. The required and robust inspection conditions such as the number of electrons per pixel and pixel size (resolution) are examined for SEM inspection system. Throughput of a PEM inspection system corresponds to that of a multi-beam SEM one with 250 – 1000 beams.

It is a great challenge to inspect the quality of portable DVD (P-DVD) automatically during the mass production procedure. Inspecting a P-DVD needs such technologies as the automatic control on P-DVD, the automatic data acquisition, the digital signal processing of the audio and video signals, the channels switching and the user-friendly man machine interfaces. Based on Visual Basic.NET, this contribution has developed an automatic inspecting system for P-DVD quality control. To achieve high speed online inspection, the system chooses two high speed acquisition modules, two I/O PCI cards and a PC workstation as the platform. The quality of the video signal, audio signal, and voltage signal are analyzed and estimated. Then some technologies like the data acquisition, the control on DVD, the Switch Module, the GDI+ graphics programming and the multithreading programming technologies are employed. The developed automatic inspecting system in this paper has been applied to a P-DVD workshop floor in Dalian, China and has achieved satisfactory results.

Slug flow is a common flow regime that occurs in chemical industries, petroleum and power generation. The aim of this paper is to investigate the correlation between the slug bubble translational velocity and the air-liquid superficial velocity based on the development of a new image processing procedure. In this paper, the slug bubble contour and translational velocity were measured in the 15 mm inner diameter pipe. In order to observe the interfacial behavior of air-liquid, both of the liquid and air superficial velocity were set to $0.3 \sim0.9 m/$s. The adopted image processing has succeeded to detach the dispersed bubble from the slug bubble tail, which overcome the challenge for the visualization of slug bubble. Moreover, the mechanisms of the disappearance of slug bubble tail are analyzed based on the interfacial behavior. Finally, the data results display that the slug translational velocity in experiment is lower than the model predicted velocity at the boundary of bubbly flow and slug flow.

This study explores the application of digital image processing techniques to a machine vision system for log inspection in the forest products industry. This machine vision system uses the computerized tomography (CT) imaging to locate and identify internal defects in hardwood logs. To apply CT to these industrial vision problems requires efficient and robust image processing methods. Several image processing techniques are addressed in this paper: adaptive image smoothing, multi-threshold-based segmentation, morphological filtering, and 3-D connectiveness labeling. Experimental results of these image processing techniques with CT images from two different wood species demonstrate the efficacy of the inspection system.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

컴퓨터용 Lead Screw는 검사방식이 수동검사로 이루어져 작업자의 주관적 판단으로 인한 미검출과 과검출이 발생하고, 생산성이 저하되는 단점이 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 이러한 단점을 보완하고자 Lead Screw 자동검사 시스템을 개발했다. 검사시스템은 Lead Screw 자동공급 및 이송을 위한 공급 이송 장치와, 표면검사를 위한 <TEX>$360^{\circ}$</TEX> 회전장치, 치수검사를 위한 머신비젼 부분으로 구성된다. Lead Screw 자동검사 시스템으로 표면과 치수 측정결과, 오검률 및 미검률이 수동검사 결과보다 우수함을 보였다. In manual inspection of Lead Screw of computers many workers are needed to inspect samples, and its main disadvantage is that such types of inspection system not only gives low production, but also gives low perfection. Besides, in manual inspection system, the inspection cost of samples is higher than that of the automatic inspection system. Therefore, in this study to compensate these shortcomings, an automatic inspection system is developed. For the inspection of the surfaces and different dimensional parameters of computer Lead screw, a <TEX>$360^{\circ}$</TEX> rotating machine vision system is developed. From the detailed analysis of the inspection results using the present developed inspection system, it is observed that the developed Lead Screw automatic inspection system is superior to those of manually inspection system.

In today?s competitive passive components market, the quality and delivery time of products are the key factors to survive. The traditional quality control process is performed by human experts, which is slow and error prone. In recent years, automatic inspection becomes a mainstream and many works have been published. However, the industry still demands a faster and more accurate inspection method. In this paper, a novel image inspection algorithm to detect defects of Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor (MLCC) is proposed. A testing system is developed and integrated into a production line. In our experiment, the proposed algorithm is proved to be very effective. The inspection system speeds up the testing process 2.5 times as well as increases the yield rate considerably.

In today's competitive passive components market, the quality and delivery time of products are the key factors to survive. The traditional quality control process is performed by human experts, which is slow and error prone. In recent years, automatic inspection becomes a mainstream and many works have been published. However, the industry still demands a faster and more accurate inspection method. In this paper, a novel image inspection algorithm to detect defects of Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor (MLCC) is proposed. A testing system is developed and integrated into a production line. In our experiment, the proposed algorithm is proved to be very effective. The inspection system speeds up the testing process 2.5 times as well as increases the yield rate considerably.

Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system is an important part of modern intelligent transport system, which plays an important role in intelligent car parks and congestion charging. Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system includes automatic vehicle identification system and electronic billing system. The automatic vehicle identification system includes three parts: automatic vehicle identification (AVI), automatic vehicle model identification (AVC) and inspection system (ES).The application of ETC in intelligent car parks and congestion charging also includes automatic vehicle identification system (automatic vehicle identification, automatic vehicle model identification and inspection system) and electronic billing system. In intelligent car parks, ETC technology achieves fast and accurate automatic toll payment by automatically identifying the ETC tags carried by vehicles, which greatly improves the efficiency of car parks and reduces the queuing and waiting time due to manual toll collection. In terms of congestion charging, ETC technology provides an effective means to implement congestion charge collection. By setting up ETC toll lanes in core urban areas or busy road sections, the system can automatically record the information of the vehicles passing through and carry out toll settlement, thus realising dynamic toll collection according to the degree of congestion and the frequency of vehicle use. This congestion charging strategy aims to regulate urban traffic flow through economic means, alleviate traffic congestion and promote the sustainable development of urban transport. Although China's theoretical research on congestion charging, has been relatively mature, but affected by a variety of factors, no city has yet to start the implementation of congestion charging, the lack of experience in practice. Singapore will not stop the car charging system (ETC) technology successfully applied to urban congestion charging and intelligent car parks, ETC system in intelligent car parks and congestion charging application, help to promote the development of urban transport to a more intelligent, green direction. China can learn from the successful experience of foreign countries and apply it to its own intelligent car parks and congestion charging. This paper introduces the basic principle of ETC, discusses the research progress of ETC in terms of technical characteristics, and analyses the application scenarios of ETC in intelligent car parks and congestion charging. By examining the opportunities offered by Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems in smart car parks and congestion pricing, this study aims to delve into the transformative impacts of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems on intelligent mobility and contribute to the sustainable development of intelligent mobility.

Performance evaluation of an automatic inspection system of weld defects in radiographic images based on neuro-classifiers