An Innovative Tool for Detection of Small Notches Using a Nanocomposite Optical Sensor

In this paper, the authors introduce an innovative and complete tool for the automatic diagnostic and detection of small notches on analyzed components. The tool is based on the analysis of the data of a nanocomposite optical sensor accurately moved by a robotic arm, whose gripper catches and moves the optical sensor, for scanning without contact the external surface of mechanical components. The recent optical sensor is composed of an optical fiber source made up of a nanocomposite material, and it allows detecting the characteristics of the target by monitoring the backscattered light. The innovative tool here presented is based on the analysis of several experiments carried out, considering small notches of different lengths. The proposed algorithm, together with the used device, is able to point out the presence or not of a small notch on the scanned component and also to estimate with a good precision its length and position.