An automotive analogue of a CT scanner has been introduced in the BMW manufacturing center in Munich, Germany. Its main purpose will be to reveal even the slightest defects in the way all of the car’s units, devices and components are connected to each other.
The computerized X-ray unit has been developed in 24 months under the assistance of Fraunhofer Institute researchers. The unit consists of four robotic manipulators working in pairs: one as a sender, and the other one as a receiver.
BMW emphasizes that the CT scanner is an invaluable asset in automotive production. Even simple processes, such as lacquering followed by heat-drying, can adversely affect structural integrity of the vehicle. Normally, to see whether a part has been affected, the technician had to disassemble it completely – or even saw it apart. With a CT scanner, diagnosis becomes as simple as pointing the X-ray unit to the desired area.
The German enterprise hopes to become able to approve new materials and technologies faster once the X-ray unit starts working. BMW software engineers are currently working on an AI tech that would be able to read and interpret the CT data to automate the process of browsing through thousands of snapshots.
Photo: BMW