Robotic ultrasound inspection of composite helicopter parts – water-free and contactless

A new robotic inspection system is now in operation for the automated testing of composite helicopter components. At its core is XARION’s Laser-Excited Acoustics (LEA) technology – an innovative, non-contact ultrasonic method that works entirely without water or coupling gel.

Ensuring the Quality of Aerospace Composites

The system ensures the quality and structural integrity of carbon fiber parts through high-resolution, laser-based ultrasonic inspection. Unlike conventional NDT approaches, LEA enables contactless analysis of both monolithic and sandwich composite structures – with no surface preparation and no contact.

Compact Design – Perfect for Confined Spaces

Thanks to the compact and fiber-coupled design of the LEA sensor, the robotic system is ideally suited for confined or hard-to-reach areas, such as internal geometries commonly found in aerospace parts.

The overall system was implemented by Fill, who contributed automation features such as ergonomic part handling and tool changing.

This installation marks another milestone in the automation of composite inspection and underscores XARION’s commitment to advancing non-destructive testing in the aerospace industry.