Research on the deviation sensing of V-groove weld seam based on a novel two channel acoustic sensor

It is essential to sense the deviation of weld seam real timely in robotic welding process. However, welding process always accompanied with high temperature, strong arc light, and background noises, which significantly affects the application of sensors. In this study, a novel acoustic sensor was developed. This sensor consists of two microphones. Based on the sound signals collected by these two microphones, the deviation of weld seam was detected. The frequency response of the developed acoustic sensor was studied through simulation method firstly, and then, the sensing performance of it was analyzed with experiments. The experimental results show that the developed acoustic sensor has a linear property for the deviation detection of V-groove weld seam. This research provides a novel method for weld seam tracking.