X-Wave Innovations, Inc. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF171-052

Description

Recognizing the need for performing structural inspection of aerospace engine and airframes in a timely manner and yielding results with repeatable accuracy, Air Force is encouraging ideas for non-destructive evaluation (NDE) systems beyond the conventional eddy current, ultrasound, and penetrant dye techniques. X-wave innovations Inc., proposes a novel portable, non-contact, non-intrusive, passive hyperspectral optics-based NDE system that can detect flaws of size as small as 5-mil with consistent accuracy. The proposed system uses active thermography to raise the energy of the specimen, followed by hyperspectral thermal infrared (IR) imaging to detect cracks, defects, and other material flaws. The key innovation is the integration of hyperspectral and hypertemporal imagery with a state-of-the-art digital image processing algorithm into one compact, stand-alone measurement device. Whereas the optical nature of the proposed NDE allows for area scanning, thereby reducing the time of inspection and the manpower needed, the hyperspectral aspect allows for detecting structural defects as well as defects in the material composition with high sensitivity. The successful completion of the HySpecNDE prototype will serve commercially wherever a failure of a hardware component would cause significant hazard or economic loss, such as in transportation, pressure vessels, building structures, piping, and hoisting equipment.