2025.02.19

News

"Computer Vision Enhances the Potential of Ultrabroadband Imaging in Non-destructive Testing" A New Approach Using Carbon nanotube tomography & visual-hull

Chuo University
National Institute of Informatics

Summary

    Led by Assistant Prof. Kou Li, a research group in Chuo University (President: KAWAI Hisashi, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, Japan), under a collaboration with National Institute of Informatics (Director-General: KUROHASHI Sadao, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan), has developed a synergetic strategy among millimeter-wave–terahertz–infrared photo-monitoring and computer vision three-dimensional modelling toward ubiquitous non-destructive inspections, with a recent paper publication in Advanced Materials Technologies.

Graphical abstract

    While non-destructive inspections of daily necessities and industrial products require material composition identifications and structural reconstructions of composite multi-layered three-dimensional (3D) objects, the development of analyzing systems that fully satisfy those performances is still insufficient. Particularly, synergetic combinations are urgently indispensable among non-destructive permeable inner material identifications with millimeter-wave (MMW)–terahertz (THz)–infrared (IR) photo-monitoring and computer-vision (CV)-driven 3D modelling. However, respective approaches on the above individual concept crucially regulate their use as planar image acquisition operations for the former (missing cross-sectional information) and visual light (Vis)-based outer views for the latter (lacking non-destructive permeability to inner structures).

    To this end, this manuscript made the following significant contributions.

  1. Integrating multi-wavelength MMW–IR monitoring functions into carbon nanotube (CNT) film photo-thermoelectric (PTE) imagers, which works in ultrabroadband ranges over conventional wide-band sensors at comparable sensitivities with those of existing narrow-band detectors in each region.
     
  2. Hybrid multi-CV operations among visual hull (VH) and Computed tomography (CT) with the CNT film PTE imager-based MMW–IR monitoring system as follows: speculating 3D spatial locations of each constituent material of targets by VH (shadow/silhouette-based vague views) as a first step of non-destructive inspections, then restores their detailed cross-sectional structures (e.g., columnar? or hollow?) by CT.
     
  3. Demonstrating material-identifying non-destructive structural reconstructions against multi-layered composite opaque 3D target objects by incorporating the aforementioned fundamental device and system preparations.
     
  4. Satisfying fundamental performances (1 mm resolution at 150 sec. for VH and 2 min. for CT) comparable to existing Vis-reconstruction methods by the presenting system, while the CNT film PTE imager fully functions over 1.15 mm–660 nm wavelength ranges beyond the above conventional CV approaches.

 

    The paper was published online in the international scientific journal, Advanced Materials Technologies (February 15, 2025).

-Researcher-

Kou Li

Assistant Professor

Faculty of Science and Engineering,

Chuo University		 (Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Communication Engineering)
Daiki Shikichi

Master course student

Graduate School of Science and Engineering,

Chuo University		 (Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Communication Engineering)
Miki Kubota

Master course student

Graduate School of Science and Engineering,

Chuo University		 (Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Communication Engineering)
Yukio Kawano

Professor

Faculty of Science and Engineering,

Chuo University		 (Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Communication Engineering)
Raito Ota

Bachelor student*

*at the time of research

Faculty of Science and Engineering,

Chuo University		 (Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Communication Engineering)
Takeru Q. Suyama

Ph.D. student

National Institute of Informatics		 SOKENDAI
Satoshi Ikehata

Associate Professor

Digital Content and Media Sciences Research Division		 National Institute of Informatics
Imari Sato

Professor

Digital Content and Media Sciences Research Division		 National Institute of Informatics

 

-Paper information-

Journal    Advanced Materials Technologies
Title Multi computer vision-driven testing platform: structural reconstruction and material identification
with ultrabroadband carbon nanotube imagers
Author

Daiki Shikichi†,1, Raito Ota†,1, Miki Kubota†,1, Yuya Kinoshita1, Noa Izumi1, Mitsuki Kosaka1,
Tomoki Nishi1, Daiki Sakai1, Yuto Matsuzaki1, Leo Takai1, Minami Yamamoto1, Yuto Aoshima1,
Ryoga Odawara1, Takeru Q. Suyama2,3, Hiroki Okawa4, Zhenyu Zhou3, Tomoya Furukawa5,6, Shota Wada5,6,
Satoshi Ikehata3, Imari Sato3, Yukio Kawano*,1,3,4, and Kou Li*,1

†Co-first author

*Corresponding author
Affiliation

1Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Communication Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University

2The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI

3National Institute of Informatics

4Kanagawa Industrial Institute of Science and Technology

5Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology

6Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology
DOI 10.1002/admt.202401724

 

-Acknowledgement-
The authors acknowledge Zeon Co. for providing CNT solution. The authors also thank Musashi Engineering Inc. for their technical support. This work was financially supported by a part of:

  • ■ACT-X (JPMJAX23KL) and Mirai Program (JPMJMI23G1): JST
  • ■KAKENHI (JP20H05953, JP22H01553, JP22H01555, JP23H00169, JP23K19125, JP24K01288, and JP24K17325): JSPS
  • ■Murata Science Foundation
  • ■Matsuo Foundation
  • ■Sumitomo Electric Groups CSR Foundation
  • ■Takano Science Foundation
  • ■Thermal & Electric Energy Technology Foundation
  • ■Precise Measurement Technology Promotion Foundation
  • ■Suzuki Foundation
  • ■Iwatani Naoji Foundation
  • ■Futaba Foundation
  • ■Konica Minolta Science and Technology Foundation
  • ■Fuji Seal Foundation
  • ■Telecommunications Advancement Foundation
  • ■TEPCO Memorial Foundation
  • ■Paloma CSR Foundation
  • ■Takano Life Science Research Foundation
  • ■The Foundation for The Promotion of Ion Engineering
  • ■Hattori Hokokai Foundation
  • ■Mechanical Social Systems Foundation
  • ■Kayamori Foundation of Informational Science Advancement
  • ■Shimadzu Science Foundation
  • ■Japan Power Academy
  • ■Tokuyama Science Foundation
  • ■Yashima Environment Technology Foundation
  • ■Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology

-Contact-
(Research content)
Kou Li
Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Communication Engineering,
Faculty of Science and Engineering,
Chuo University
TEL: +81-3-3817-1860
E-mail: li▲elect.chuo-u.ac.jp
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(General inquiry)
Research Promotion Office,
Chuo University
E-mail: kkouhou-grp▲g.chuo-u.ac.jp
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