Our Know-How

DTEC is motivated by state-of-the-art technology to design and produce high-performance inspecting and monitoring solutions for railway operation and maintenance. We are specialized in various NDT techniques including ultrasonic testing, and apply 2D and 3D machine vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and data mining.

1    Ultrasonic Testing and Other NDT

Ultrasonic testing and other Nondestructive Testing (NDT) methods are widely used in wheelset flaw detection solutions, which are applied at the depot entrance line and in the maintenance workshop, as well as rail flaw detection solutions.

Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic FMC/TFM

Eddy Current Testing 
ACFM 

I    Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic testing (UT) is one of the classic non-destructive testing techniques based on the propagation of ultrasonic waves in the object to be inspected. DTEC applies conventional UT and advanced UT technology for railway wheels, axles, and rail inspection.

WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON

  • Case studies
  • CIVA simulation and optimization
  • Probe design
  • UT reference wheelset design
  • Automation solutions
  • Ultrasonic data processing and display
  • Wheelset and rail inspection

APPLIED ON PRODUCT

II    ULTRASONIC IMAGING USING FMC/TFM

FMC/TFM, stand for Full Matrix Capture and Total Focusing Method, and allow state-of-art UT imaging with higher resolution and quality compared to conventional Phased Array UT. From research applications to real inspection solutions, DTEC has been continuously working on the development of this technology together with our exclusive partner to offer you a better UT inspection performance. Currently, we are doing FMC/TFM research and evaluation on fatigue crack characterization, rail welding part imaging, and axle press-fit imaging.

WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON

  • FMC method design and simulation
  • TFM algorithm optimization
  • Fatigue crack sizing and characterization
  • Rail welding part imaging, axle press-fit imaging

APPLIED ON THE FOLLOWING PRODUCT

  • Updated DOLPHIN SERIES for flaw detection on wheels, axles, and rails (coming soon)

III    EDDY CURRENT TESTING (ECT)

Compared to UT on volume check, Eddy Current Testing (ECT) is a type of non-contact NDT method which plays an important role in surface and near-surface testing with no couplant needed and high sensitivity. DTEC employs the latest Eddy Current Array (ECA) to reach the testing target with higher efficiency and friendly imaging indicating experience for operators in railway inspection.

WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON

  • Case studies
  • CIVA Simulation and Optimization
  • Sensor design
  • Elaboration of Pilot Tests
  • Automation Solutions
  • Data Processing and display
  • Wheel, axle, bogie, and rail inspection

APPLIED ON PRODUCT

  • Updated DOLPHIN SERIES for flaw detection on wheels, axles, and rails  (coming soon).

IV    ELECTROMAGNETIC MEASUREMENT (ACFM)

ACFM, standing for Alternating Current Field Measurement, became an effective and practicable NDT method in recent years. It is a powerful method to inspect surface-breaking cracks and even can indicate the crack depth. DTEC experts keep their eyes on each technical performance change globally. We always select the most advanced ACFM equipment and use pilot tests to check the real industry performance, which empowers us to be the suitable solution provider in railway inspection.

WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON

  • Case studies
  • Simulation and optimization
  • Elaboration of pilot tests
  • Automation solutions
  • Data processing and display
  • Application experience on rail and wheel surface-breaking fatigue crack inspection

APPLIED ON PRODUCT

2    Machine Vision

Machine Vision technology is a high-value method that DTEC employs to perform precise measurement and fast detection on profile and surface condition monitoring. Thanks to the contribution of Artificial Intelligence know-how, our smart monitoring and measurement solutions are highly qualified for classified fault alarming and life time predicting.

2D Image Processing 
3D Reconstruction 

I    2D IMAGE PROCESSING

We are major players in the field of machine vision inspection for more than two decades, starting from traditional 2D image processing for rail vehicle wheels, brakes, and pantograph strip measurement in motion. Continuously, we update our imaging technology with neural network methods and then artificial intelligence that makes our machine vision systems smarter in detecting and analyzing of fault conditions, as well as life cycle prediction for plenty of railway-related components.

WE PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON

  • Design of Computer Vision Systems
  • Pattern Recognition, Segmentation, Feature Detection
  • Deep Learning
APPLIED ON PRODUCT

II    3D RECONSTRUCTION

3D imaging gives us an interactive view of a monitored target. Together with reverse engineering technology, using 3D data allows to quantify the material loss due to friction at wheel tread, pantograph carbon strip, and brakes. Similarly, it can be used to detect tiny movement or displacement of vehicle key parts like loose bolts, deformed parts, etc. Besides, it also helps to suppress false alarms in 2D inspection caused by water, mud, and displacement within the tolerance limit.

WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON

  • 3D reconstruction based on Phase-Measuring Profilometry (PMP), Line Scanning, Time of Flight (ToF), Binocular Vision
  • 3D object detection and segmentation based on Deep Learning (DL)
  • Computer Graphics, Reverse Engineering, etc.

APPLIED ON PRODUCT

3    Measurement and Detection

Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) is another topic that we push with great passion. In this field, multi-type sensor systems, various kinds of measured signals, and data fusion methods are researched for condition monitoring of axle bearing, gearbox, wheel tread, and air conditioning systems.

Acoustic Diagnosis 
Laser Measurement 

I    ACOUSTIC DIAGNOSIS

Numerous vehicle parts can be monitored by diagnosing acoustic (vibration) signals emitted from e.g. bearing, , gearbox, wheel tread, and wheel/rail interaction as well as air conditioning systems

WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON

  • Bearing failure study
  • Profile induced wheel/rail interaction vibration analysis
  • Air condition abnormal sound analysis.

APPLIED ON PRODUCT

  • TRACKSIDE BEARING MONITORING SYSTEM
  • TRACKSIDE AIR CONDITION MONITORING SYSTEM
  • TRACKSIDE VEHICLE RUNNING PERFORMANCE MONITORING SYSTEM

II    Laser Measurement

Line Scan Laser measurements are used for wheel profile recording and quantification of wear.

WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON

  • Camera and laser system design
  • Image processing and profile calculation
  • Design against harsh environments

APPLIED ON PRODUCT

4    Artificial Intelligence

It has been years that Artificial Intelligence (AI) became a strategic and continuously developed technology platform that makes traditional image-based inspection smarter in terms of failure recognition and also represents a powerful tool for data mining in Prognostics and Health Management (PHM).

Failure Recognition 
Life Cycle Management 

I ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

 

WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON

  • Task-specific method defining
  • Networks optimizing
  • Owning massive field data for training
  • Deep understanding of application scenario

APPLIED ON PRODUCT