Adaptive Algorithm for the Quality Control of Braided Sleeving

We describe the development and application of a robot vision based adaptive algorithm for the quality control of the braided sleeving of high pressure hydraulic pipes. With our approach, we can successfully overcome the limitations, such as low reliability and repeatability of braided quality, which result from the visual observation of the braided pipe surface. The braids to be analyzed come in different dimensions, colors, and braiding densities with different types of errors to be detected, as presented in this paper. Therefore, our machine vision system, consisting of a mathematical algorithm for the automatic adaptation to different types of braids and dimensions of pipes, enables the accurate quality control of braided pipe sleevings and offers the potential to be used in the production of braiding lines of pipes. The principles of the measuring method and the required equipment are given in the paper, also containing the mathematical adaptive algorithm formulation. The paper describes the experiments conducted to verify the accuracy of the algorithm. The developed machine vision adaptive control system was successfully tested and is ready for the implementation in industrial applications, thus eliminating human subjectivity.