Fusion Framework for 3D Inspection and Thermal NDT

3D digitalization and modeling is very popular in industrial applications such as metrology, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tridimensional object inspection. The 3D captured data can be used for the inspection of object surfaces. However, hidden defects cannot be detected with this technology. In order to get this kind of information, NDT/E (Non-Destructive Testing/Examination) approaches are used (ultrasounds, infrared imaging, etc.). These two types of information are very important in aerospace products inspection (e.g. composite materials).

The two modalities (3D Vision and NDT) are still used separately. In this work, we present a new multi-modal fusion framework for combining these two data types. The fusion scheme works on 3D image data and temporal thermal images in order to obtain a hybrid model for simultaneously inspecting the 3D surface and the hidden sub-surface defects. The proposed system permits an augmented visualization of structural non visible defects in a three-dimensional space.