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2025/02/19

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

　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.

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.
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.
Demonstrating material-identifying non-destructive structural reconstructions against multi-layered composite opaque 3D target objects by incorporating the aforementioned fundamental device and system preparations.
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*, 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

*at the time of research

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. Suyama^2,3,Hiroki Okawa⁴,Zhenyu Zhou³,Tomoya Furukawa^5,6,Shota Wada^5,6,Satoshi Ikehata³,Imari Sato³,Yukio Kawano^*,1,3,4,and Kou Li^*,1
†Co-first author *Corresponding author
（Affiliation:）
1：Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Communication Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University
2：The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
3：National Institute of Informatics
4：Kanagawa Industrial Institute of Science and Technology
5：Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
6：Department 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 FoundationT
Fuji Seal Foundation
elecommunications 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