Robot-assisted computed tomography (RoboCT) for non-destructive testing of large and complex components

inspeCTorob GmbH

Erlangen · FürthNew on Amplifa

2023Founded

HRB 20765, AG FürthCommercial Register

1Employees

GmbHLegal Form

About inspeCTorob

inspeCTorob GmbH offers RoboCT, a robot-assisted computed tomography technology for the non-destructive testing (NDT) of large and complex-shaped components. The technology was developed over ten years at the Fraunhofer Development Center for X-ray Technology EZRT and brought to market maturity in 2023 in the form of inspeCTorob GmbH, a cooperation between Fraunhofer EZRT and LZE GmbH. Instead of high-precision laboratory axis systems, two cooperating industrial robots position the X-ray source and detector directly at the test object, so that 3D CT scans are possible at almost any region of interest or on the complete component – including joints such as riveted, welded and bonded seams. Areas of application are in particular the automotive industry (e.g. quality assurance for giga-casting, battery systems, prototypes), aerospace (aerostructures, additively manufactured components), energy systems as well as testing laboratories. The company, based in Erlangen, offers the system as a turnkey product including individual configurations, a 3D model or digital twin, as well as services such as technology transfer, licensing and contract research.

Site: Erlangen
Processes: 3D computed tomography (RoboCT) at region of interest or on the complete component, incl. inspection, Non-destructive testing (radioscopy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance methods,, Robot-based computed tomography (RoboCT) as a turnkey product, Non-destructive testing (CT) of large and complex-shaped components at any, Technology transfer, licensing of software and inventions, Technology scouting, Contract research and development, 3D models / digital twin of the system
Materials: Robot-assisted computed tomography, Non-destructive testing, Region-of-interest CT
Founded: 2023
Employees: 1
Industries: Automotive, Aerospace, Energy systems, Testing laboratories

01
Technology development (from Fraunhofer EZRT)
02
Consulting and system configuration
03
Manufacturing/integration of the RoboCT system
04
Commissioning as a turnkey product
05
Support, licensing and digital twin

Processes and Technologies

RoboCT

Robot-assisted computed tomography

3D CT scans at almost any region of interest on large and complex-shaped components using two cooperating industrial robots.

ZfP

Non-destructive testing

Radioscopy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance methods and surface inspection for quality testing without disassembly.

ROI-CT

Region-of-interest CT

Inspection of selected areas such as riveted, welded and bonded seams on prototypes and pre-series vehicles.

Locations

Erlangen

Headquarters

Materials: X-ray technology, robotics

RoboCT system with two cooperating industrial robots
Standard X-ray cabinet
Microfocus X-ray source (optional)
Rotary table (optional)

Fürth

X-ray technology sales, cooperation with Fraunhofer EZRT

Testing Tasks and Applications

**CT inspection of joints on a vehicle**RoboCT · Automotive

**Robot-assisted X-ray testing of large components**RoboCT · Aerospace

**Bonded seam analysis using computed tomography**RoboCT · Automotive

Inside the production

Industries

AutomotiveAerospaceEnergy systemsTesting laboratories

Processes & technical limits

Processes	Tolerance	Max. part	Weight	Lot size	Materials
3D computed tomography (RoboCT) at region of interest or on the complete component, incl. inspectionTesting	–	–	–	–	–
Non-destructive testing (radioscopy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance methods,Testing	–	–	–	–	–

1 Anlagen & Maschinen

Machine	Manufacturer / model	Quantity	Working area	Year built	Site
RoboCT system (robot-assisted computed tomography) with two cooperating industrial robots and	inspeCTorob / Fraunhofer EZRT RoboCT Standard	–	almost unlimited flexibility, very large and complex-shaped components	–	–

Additional services

Robot-based computed tomography (RoboCT) as a turnkey productNon-destructive testing (CT) of large and complex-shaped components at anyTechnology transfer, licensing of software and inventionsTechnology scoutingContract research and development3D models / digital twin of the systemIndividual system configurations (additional robots, larger cabinet, rotary table,

Reference customers

BMW Group (named in the press release on the use of the RoboCT)

History

2023
Foundation of inspeCTorob GmbH (commercial register entry HRB 20765, Fürth Local Court, 4 December 2023); the brand emerged from the cooperation between Fraunhofer EZRT and LZE GmbH.
More than ten years of development of the robot-assisted computed tomography technology RoboCT at Fraunhofer EZRT up to market maturity.