About us Services R&D Training & events Resources Contact Jobs News First research contract with European Space Agency We are pleased to announce that we have signed a first research contract with the European Space Agency (ESA). The project aims to develop an intelligent robot-assisted non-destructive system to investigate composite structures. Using artificial intelligence, the robot will be able to carry out analyses using two different methods: dimensional metrology (with lasers) and ultrasonic testing (with ultrasounds). The artificial intelligence will be responsible for, firstly, the selection of the most appropriate measuring method, then the examination of critical features and, finally, the interpretation of the output signals to detect potential defects. Several months training for the robot To achieve this capability, the artificial intelligence will be trained over several months on typical defects that can be found in relevant composite materials. After this training step, the system should be able to work autonomously. Partnership in the space industry To reach the project goals, ENGIE Laborelec has joined forces with 3 well-known companies in the space industry: SABCA, Verhaert and Fixar. The tasks allocation is the following: ENGIE Laborelec will lead the project and bring its expertise in non-destructive testing. Verhaert New Products and Services nv will both build and train the artificial intelligence part of the system. SABCA will manufacture the composite materials needed to train the artificial intelligence. Their UT robot will also be used in the project. Fixar will design and build the demonstrator, including the automation and the metrology aspect of the project. Appreciated niche skills The project started on the 15st of April 2021 and will run for 2.5 years. The Contract is carried out under a programme funded by the European Space Agency, for a total value of 900.000€. This contract is a result of our willingness to collaborate with the ESA on research projects. Our teams have many specific and key skills to offer in this domain. The great value of these competences and the fact that they are not easily found on the market was a crucial factor that fostered the signing of the contract. Would you like to learn more about this project or about our collaboration with ESA? Contact us Recent news First qualification works booked in for ITER Aquilon project SMATCH to make EV charging smarter across Rotterdam region Our dedicated MICROSITES ENGIE Laborelec SCR denox solutions ENGIE Laborelec industrial cybersecurity ENGIE Laborelec microgrids ENGIE Laborelec Smatch ENGIE Laborelec Academy Useful links Privacy statement Sales and purchase conditions ENGIE Laborelec’s ethics policy Route description Don’t hesitate to stop by! ENGIE Laborelec has a tradition of transparency, which also applies to our laboratory activities. If you want to get a concrete idea about our test facilities, measurement equipment or quality policy, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to arrange a visit. © 2021 Laborelec. All Rights Reserved Our website uses cookies to remember your preferences and to help us to provide you with the best experience and to continuously improve our site. By clicking on “Agree and proceed” you are agreeing to us placing cookies on your computer in order to analyse the way you use our website. You can refuse cookies by clicking on “Change settings”. ×