Past Projects
Robotics & Automation
Engineering
DepthX was a NASA Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets project to design, develop, and field-test a robotic vehicle to explore extreme aqueous environments.
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The DisMap system was designed for precision measurement of strain.
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High-speed video camera with high-magnification lens and strobe lighting to capture images of the capsules as they fell from the extruder.
A long list of successful projects and satisfied clients has been established by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), but much of the work and even the names of clients themselves are confidential. Below is a sampling of projects conducted by the Manufacturing Systems Department. Contact us for your specific needs.
- Automated Coating Removal System (ACRES)
- DepthX – Autonomous Underwater Robot
- Conceptual Design for an Automated Press Tending System
- Robotic Paint Strippers
- Mold Handling Automation
- Axle Gauging System
- Wing Removal/Installation Tool
- Displacement Mapping
- Microcapsule Manufacturing
- Clean Room Robot Development
- Machine Vision Control of Laser Welding Process
Image-Based Precision Measurement
Displacement Mapping
High-resolution video cameras can be used as optical sensors. The DisMap© system was designed for precision measurement of strain. Normalized image correlation is used to determine the displacements at grid points when a specimen is loaded. The resulting displacement map provides information of material deformation that would be impossible to obtain by any other method.
Image Measurement Based Control
Microcapsule Manufacturing
We have used image-based optical sensing for measurement and feedback control of complex processes. In one case, it was necessary to measure the size and shape of microcapsules as they were formed in order to control the extruder parameters to maintain quality. This system included a high-speed video camera with high-magnification lens and strobe lighting to capture images of the capsules as they fell from the extruder. Image analysis determined the size and shape of the capsules, and control algorithms were used to adjust the extruder speed and pressure.
Clean Room Robot Development
Reticule Storage
SwRI designed a 6-degrees-of-freedom robot to store reticules in a clean room environment. It was designed to store and retrieve reticules without human intervention to keep dust contamination down.
Related Terminology
DepthX • Conceptual Design for an Automated Press Tending System: Industrial Proprietary • Robotic Paint Strippers Project • Mold Handling Automation Proposal • Laser Scanner Redesign • Axle Gauging System • Robotic Torque Converter Assembly • FalconStar • manufacturing • automation engineering
