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Executive Summary: Accelerating Automated NDE through Robotics at Strathclyde

Institution: University of Strathclyde

Innovation Focus: Robotics-Enabled NDE for Manufacturing, Infrastructure & Autonomous Inspection

Sectors Impacted: Nuclear, Aerospace, Renewables, Additive Manufacturing, Defence

The Innovation

Since 2006, the University of Strathclyde has led pioneering work in robotic Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), developing and deploying mobile, aerial, and industrial robotic systems to transform how inspections are performed across complex environments and processes. From nuclear fuel reprocessing to aerospace manufacturing, Strathclyde’s innovations are now enabling safer, smarter, and more cost-effective inspection worldwide.

Commercial and Industrial Impact

Real-World Commercial & Sector Impact

Mobile and Aerial Robotic Inspection

  • Early mobile robots developed with NNL deployed at Sellafield in 2012, supporting life extension of Magnox reprocessing.
  • Commercial licensing of path planning and ultrasonic sensing tech with Eddyfi, integrated into their Scorpion platform.
  • Developed UAV-based 3D inspection systems with EDF and ETH Zurich, enabling autonomous surface reconstruction and ultrasonic contact measurements of structures like wind turbines.

Steel Industry – High-Yield, Low-Waste Production

  • RCNDE-funded research matured from low TRL to full tech demonstrators via partnerships with TWI and the UK Manufacturing Catapult.
  • Enabled Rolls-Royce and Spirit Aerosystems to perform robotic NDE on complex parts, now being scaled at Spirit’s Aerospace Innovation Centre.
  • Adaptive in-process inspection developed with KUKA Robotics enables real-time path correction and NDE-controlled additive manufacturing processes.
  • The RoboWAAM platform—developed through an Innovate UK project—is the world’s first robot-delivered wire arc AM system with integrated ultrasonic NDE, now commercially available.

The RCNDE Advantage

RCNDE has played a pivotal role in:

  • Connecting Strathclyde with key industry partners (e.g. EDF, Rolls-Royce, Spirit, NNL, TWI, KUKA)
  • Funding early-stage research that de-risked advanced robotic NDE concepts
  • Providing access to collaborative platforms and events that accelerated technology adoption and commercialisation
  • Enabling cross-sector dissemination of robotic NDE capability across nuclear, aerospace, renewables, and manufacturing
  • Positioning the UK at the forefront of intelligent inspection and Industry 4.0-enabled manufacturing

Why It Matters to Industry

  • Reduces manual inspection risks and costs across hazardous and high-value environments
  • Delivers real-time NDE-driven process control in welding and additive manufacturing
  • Provides modular, adaptable robotic solutions—from UAVs to crawler bots to cobots
  • Positions partners to lead in next-gen manufacturing and predictive maintenance under the Industry 4.0 paradigm

Result

Strathclyde’s robotic NDE innovations have successfully transitioned from early research to commercially deployed systems in different sectors, improving safety, reducing inspection costs, and enabling real-time, automated quality control in complex and hazardous environments. With RCNDE’s support, the work has accelerated industry adoption and positioned the UK as a global leader in intelligent, Industry 4.0-enabled inspection solutions.

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