Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : [in Japanese]
Date : June 28, 2023 - July 01, 2023
Surface inspection is a crucial quality control process in various industries, including automotive production lines. While digitalization and automation have improved surface inspection, human touch and sensitivity are still essential. However, detecting micro-bumps through direct touch requires extensive skill and experience. To address this, researchers developed a touch-enhancing device that amplifies tactile information and can detect small deformations, even for non-experts. The device was tested for its ability to detect micro-defects on both convex and concave surfaces, and the results showed a 2.6-fold increase in detection accuracy for concave surfaces. However, further improvements are necessary to detect convex surface deformations accurately. Future improvements to the device's structure and friction reduction could make it a valuable tool in the automotive industry's surface inspection process.
