Development of a robotic measuring system for the equivalence analysis of surface materials by using sensor fusion

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Robert Heinrich Schmitt
• Subject Area: Measurement Systems ; Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 405963282

The overall objective of the research project is the development of a robot-based, objective measuring system for the equivalence analysis of polymer surfaces and possible sustainable substitutes by means of sensor data fusion.To extend the use of sustainable materials in automotive interiors, for example, it must be ensured by objective processes that new and sustainable materials are perceived and accepted as comparable conventional materials in terms of their sensory value and the quality impression of the customer. Research shows that the human brain uses several senses, thus multimodal, to pick up the information needed for the comparison of materials and their qualities. In the case of the perception of surface features the human brain primarily uses haptical, optical and auditory sensory modalities. Previous studies often describe the material perception of humans only on the basis of haptic models. Multivariate models, which incorporate the optic and auditory perception of humans as well, have received only occasional attention in research so far. For a more precise modeling of human multisensory perception and stimulus processing, a combination of multimodal sensory impressions with the data of a multi-sensor system is necessary.Consequently, this reveals the corresponding research gap of how the multisensory (visual, acoustical, haptical) perceived equivalence in terms of the sensory value and quality impression of materials can be approximated in a technical system. In order to achieve the intended research goal, on the one hand sensory human studies are carried out to record the multimodal perceived equivalence. For the objective description of the surface materials various descriptors are implemented, which are internationally applicable descriptions for product characterizations. On the other hand, a measuring system for the characterization and testing of surface materials by means of haptic, optical and acoustic sensors is realized. The principles of sensor data fusion represent a potential approach to combine several technical sensors , in analogy to human stimulus uptake. To illustrate the quality of alternative polymers, this research project focuses on the equivalence of conventional polymers with possible recycled or biodegradable polymers.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants