Automatic surface quality inspection for quantitative evaluation of stamped parts in automotive industry

• Grant number: 16/08361-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Duration: July 01, 2017 - March 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Manufacturing Processes
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Augusto de Bonfim Gripp
• Grantee: Jorge Augusto de Bonfim Gripp
• Host Company: Autaza Tecnologia S/A
• City: São José dos Campos
• Pesquisadores principais: Enivaldo Amaral de Souza
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/13387-1 - Automatic surface quality inspection for quantitative evaluation of stamped parts in automotive industry, BP.PIPE; 17/13388-8 - Automatic surface quality inspection for quantitative evaluation of stamped parts in automotive industry, BP.PIPE

Abstract

The perceived quality of a car along with its design are the first impressions that can motivate a client to acquire or not a vehicle. A high quality surface is a competitive advantage in the automotive and aerospace industry. Thus, vehicle manufacturers carry out a strict quality control during the production of body parts in order to ensure uniformity in manufacturing, fidelity to the design model and the absence of waveness or undesirable marks. Currently, the surface quality inspection method is done visually by a trained inspector, which identifies and classifies defects. The defects are classified according to their severity level and the error source, for instance, tool mark, corner depression or local waveness. Besides being an intense and repetitive work, this method depends on the subjectivity of the inspector evaluation. This research project provides an automatic surface inspection solution, which will improve the objectivity, reproducibility and process speed. We have developed computer vision equipment, lighting equipment and software for the automation of surface quality inspection processes, with robustness for use in harsh work environments in the industry. Recognizing the potential for innovation of this project, his three executioners formed AUTAZA company on March 17, 2016. AUTAZA is a startup company resulting of a three-years-research project between the automotive company General Motors (GM) in São Caetano do Sul-SP and the Manufacturing Competence Center (CCM-ITA), a laboratory from Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA) in São José dos Campos-SP. GM became the first customer of AUTAZA. (AU)