Ultrasonic Research Platform
CMUT / PMUT research for robotic tank inspection
I started this project to investigate whether CMUT and PMUT technology could be a practical direction for the next generation of ultrasonic tank inspection. The research is supported by a custom software platform I developed for material modeling, signal analysis, and scan reconstruction. It provides a shared environment for examining the relationship between a material model, ultrasonic signals, and the measurements and images used to interpret an inspection.
Research objective: CMUTs and PMUTs
My focus is the potential use of CMUTs and PMUTs for ultrasonic nondestructive testing in a robotic tank-inspection environment. The goal is to understand whether either approach could provide a viable foundation for future scanning hardware in that application.
The software supports the modeling and interpretation side of this investigation. It allows me to explore material assumptions, signal timing, and scan reconstruction as part of the broader question of whether these technologies are worth developing further for tank inspection.
Custom modeling and analysis software
I built a custom application that brings layered-material models, time-of-flight calculations, thickness estimates, adjustable signal gates, and A-, B-, and C-scan reconstruction into one environment. This gives me a way to examine both the ultrasonic signals and the inspection views derived from them.
The engineering work extends beyond the interface: it includes the numerical calculations, signal-selection logic, and reconstruction routines behind the displays. I’m developing these together so a change to the model or processing settings can be traced through to the measurements and scan views.
Signal processing and scan reconstruction
One focus is the relationship between echo timing and the portion of a signal selected for analysis. I’m working on adjustable gates—the time windows used to select echoes—and how those selections carry through to thickness estimates and scan reconstruction.
Another challenge is preserving consistent timing and position information across the different scan views. My development work includes tracing disagreements between a signal and its plotted image, then revising the processing or display logic. Keeping those relationships explicit is important to using the software as an analysis tool.
Research and development status
The platform remains under development, including timing, gating, and consistency between scan views. CMUT / PMUT suitability for the intended inspection environment remains a research question, and measurement and reconstruction accuracy still require validation. The software supports the feasibility investigation; it is not presented as proof of a field-validated CMUT or PMUT inspection system.