Speaker & Abstracts
Sebastian Schulze
Radiography in Construction - Completely Non-Destructive Structural Diagnostics
In contrast to traditional materials testing, x-rays are rarely used in building diagnostics, but they offer strong potential for the non-destructive assessment of constructions of concrete and prestressed concrete structures. This talk demonstrates the applicability of mobile x-ray equipment in the field of structural inspection, as well as current research results on CT, using x-ray tubes with an acceleration voltage of up to 300 kV and a 2.5 MeV Betatron.
Sebastian Schulze, CEO, bauray GmbH
Sebastian Schulze earned his doctorate in 2017 as a research assistant at BAM (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing) in Berlin on the use of ultrasonic echoes for the inspection of prestressed concrete structures. With the company bauray, he was the first in Germany to found an engineering firm specializing in the application of radiography within NDT-CE (non-destructive testing in civil engineering). In the “BridgeCT” research consortium, bauray is currently working with THD, TUM, and VisiConsult to develop practical methods for laminographic and CT examination of bridges and other massive concrete cross-sections.
Robert Schalausky
Robo CT in Total Vehicle Testing @ BMW Group
This presentation discusses the development and deployment of Robo CT, a multi-robot, robotic-CT system integrated into total vehicle testing at BMW
Group. The initiative originated from a collaboration between Robert Schalausky and Thomas Mayer, with Thomas serving as the planning and construction project
leader. The system combines four robotic arms with dual X-ray sources—the Comet mid-range source (approximately 300 µm focal spot) and a Hamamatsu micro-focus source—to enable high-resolution nondestructive imaging across components and complete vehicles. A key feature is its modular, interchangeable detector setup and the ability to integrate alternative modalities, including thermography and 3D scanning, within a single testing cell. Since late 2018, the Robo CT cell
has been used routinely in standard test procedures, significantly expanding test coverage and throughput while reducing cycle times. The talk will cover:
(1) system architecture and integration within existing test workflows, (2) imaging performance and data handling for multi-modal NDT, (3) challenges in
calibration, alignment, and cross-modality data fusion, and (4) lessons learned and future directions for scalable, multi-use Robo-CT solutions in automotive testing.
Robert Schalausky, Engineer, BMW Group
Robert Schalausky is the responsible manager for body- and long-term testing and measurement techniques within BMW Group’s total vehicle testing. He oversees the total-vehicle Robo CT program, which encompasses multiple non-destructive testing capabilities. He earned a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1991.
Markus Sause
Automated decision making in quality control - a modern NDT perspectiveModern manufacturing, within the context of Industry 5.0, demands intelligent, self-monitoring production systems capable of making real-time data-driven quality decisions. While such autonomous systems increasingly manage routine processes, there remains a critical need for targeted, on-demand inspection, particularly in cases of unforeseen anomalies or complex quality issues. Automated Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods serve as a pivotal interface between autonomous production and human inspectors expertise, bridging the gap when critical decisions are required.
This contribution presents a contemporary approach to automated decision-making in quality assurance, where self-learning production systems continuously analyze process data and initiate NDT inspections as needed. For example, robotic computed tomography (RoboCT) or other automated NDT techniques - such as optical inspection, thermography, or ultrasound - enable precise, non-invasive evaluation of components. These methods are particularly valuable when production data alone does not guarantee flawless products and provide the data foundation for informed decision-making.
By integrating such automated NDT systems, a closed-loop control system emerges: the production system detects deviations, triggers in-depth inspections when necessary, and initiates appropriate actions - such as rework, rejection, or approval. This approach not only reduces manual inspection efforts and downtime but also enhances the resilience and sustainability of production by optimizing resource use and minimizing waste.
Markus Sause, Director Centre for Future Production, Augsburg University
Prof. Dr. Markus Sause studied physics with a minor in computer science and completed his doctorate on the application of acoustic emission analysis to hybrid composite materials. His habilitation dealt with the development and combination of in situ testing methods for the characterization of fibre-reinforced composites.
He is currently Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Institute for Materials Resource Management at the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology at the University of Augsburg and Director of the Augsburg AI Production Network at the University of Augsburg.
One focus of his research is the material behaviour of hybrid fibre-reinforced composites, the development of non-destructive testing methods for material characterization and data analysis. In parallel to the experimental approaches, the operating principles of the test methods are modeled using multiscale and multiphysics models. A particular focus is on the application of condition monitoring methods and the development of new sensor technologies for data acquisition on machines and systems, as well as robot-based testing technology. This includes the fusion of different data sources, the use of machine learning for data pre-processing and for decision-making and forecasting.
Prof. Dr. Markus Sause has authored more than 210 scientific publications, including two monographs, several book chapters and eight patents.
In 2010, he was awarded the Erich Krautz Prize for his dissertation, received the DGZfP Science Award in 2019 and was honored with the EWGAE Young Researcher Award in 2020.
He has been Chairman of the Acoustic Emission Emission Technical Committee of the DGZfP since 2017 and has been President of the international charter group IIIAE since 2021 and a member of the Board of the European Working Group on Acoustic Emission (EWGAE) since 2022. He is also a member of the AEWG, DPG, DGM and the VDI.
Frank Herold
Robotic CT: Design Principles for Easy, Fast, and Complete CT Scans
Computed tomography (CT) is the established reference method for non-destructive testing (NDT) when the internal details of a test object need to be visualized or measured. Traditionally, manipulators consisting of two orthogonal linear axes, a turntable, and a lifting axis are used for test objects, either for the objects themselves or for the detectors and tubes. Typically, this type of manipulator is used to perform simple circular or helical trajectories to record individual projections. The former results in an incomplete CT scan, while the latter results in a complete CT scan. Classic manipulators are difficult or impossible to use for very large or complex test objects where only specific regions (regions of interest, or ROI) are examined. Industrial robots are known for their highly flexible spatial
positioning of test objects and are already being used in some cases for applications in which conventional manipulators encounter difficulties. Additionally, robots are often used for the automatic loading and unloading of test objects.
Robots have not yet been used on a large scale due to their comparatively lower repeatability of, for example, ±20 µm or worse, and their imprecise absolute positioning in the millimeter range, which is worse than that of classic manipulators.
This study will demonstrate the unique advantages and possibilities of robot-based manipulators and explain how to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, establishing robot CT as a mature manipulation concept for future X-ray and CT systems that enables easy, fast, and complete CT scans.
Various design principles relating to robotic CT are addressed, and specific use cases are presented as examples.
Frank Herold, Research and Technology Expert, VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions GmbH
Frank Herold received his doctorate from the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH) in 2006. Since 2000, he has been involved in the further development of X-ray and CT systems and dimensional measurement technology at YXLON International GmbH, and since 2018, at VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions GmbH. Frank is actively involved in numerous committees and working groups at DIN, VDI, DGZfP, ISO, ASTM, and ASME, where he helps develop guidelines and standards in this field. Frank currently heads Research & Technology Development at VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions GmbH.
Victor Bussy
CEA LIST Dual Arm Robot : Towards an automated and reliable CT acquisition
This presentation outlines the forthcoming developments in robotic computed tomography at CEA List, Paris-Saclay. Particular attention is given to increasing the level of automation and to expanding the capabilities of dual-arm robotic CT systems. The overarching aim is to provide users with a fully automated inspection
cell in which robot trajectories are first modelled within the CIVA software environment. The robots are fitted with dedicated calibration procedures to maintain coherence between the physical reference frames and their virtual counterparts. Collision-avoidance algorithms are also embedded within the workflow. These advances are intended to minimise manual intervention and to deliver CT operations that are faster, more reliable, and user-friendly.
Victor Bussy, Researcher for Robotic CT and Advanced Reconstruction at CEA-List, Paris-Saclay
Victor was awarded his PhD in 2024 for his work on the integration of prior information in X-ray tomography at CEA List. Following this experience, he continued his research and development activities at the CEA, notably through the integration of modern reconstruction algorithms into the CIVA non-destructive testing software, as well as the coordination of simulation activities for the GERIM2 dual-arm robotic cell.
Benjamin Garcia
Robotic X-ray CT for Nondestructive Evaluation of Advanced Carbon Fiber Composite Structures
An overview of the MARS Center robotic X-ray CT, here shown on the right, and advanced nondestructive evaluation (NDE) system will be presented. Development of the X-ray shielded vault specification and fabrication process successfully passed our safety requirements. Current project will focus on capabilities to detect defects in composite structures, electronic components, and light metals. A case study on on X-ray CT use for evaluating and testing of rocket motor components will also be showcased. X-ray CT and other advanced NDE technologies will also be compared.
Robotic X-ray CT and Laser UT system at the MARS Center
Benjamin Garcia, Executive Director of the Miller Advanced Research and Solutions (MARS) Center, Weber State University
Dr. Garcia has 20 years of industrial experience in the aerospace and defense industry. Before becoming the Executive
Director of the Miller Advanced Research and Solutions (MARS) Center at Weber State University (WSU), Dr. Garcia worked at Northrop Grumman leading a team developing advanced materials and composites for solid rockets, hypersonic vehicles, and other aerospace and defense applications. He specializes in advanced manufacturing methods and automated fabrication of advanced composites. Prior to joining WSU, he was a senior business development manager over ceramic matrix composite components for aerospace and defense applications. Dr. Garcia received a BS in Materials Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and a doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University.
Thomas Gramberger
Precise NC Robots as Enabler for the Next Level of NDT in Aerospace
Utilizing industrial Robots for NDT tasks in the manufacturing industry is state of the art for decades. Whereas those standard manipulators are limited in terms of absolute precision, but also path planning capabilities, mechanic robot arms can be articulated with NC controllers, to address this known pain points. The talk will give an overview about the successful deployment of a dual robot cell based on ACCUBOT, a high precision robot, with secondary encoder feeback. Having a dual robot setup, with an absolut accuracy - factor 7 more precise then other robotic systems is a system setup, only this specific machine can provide. The system has been designed following the multi-modality approach, incorporating both ultrasonic squirter, but also X-Ray capabilities, considering automated exchange between the modalities as well. This is the perfect basis for inspection with complimentary methods, but also laminography, or even CT activities.
Thomas Gramberger, Developer of Automated NDT & Metrology Systems for the Aerospace Industry at Fill Aerospace Manufacturing Systems
Thomas Gramberger has more than one decade experience in developing automated NDT & Metrology Systems for the Aerospace Industry. His former activities in Automotive (Solutions for OEMs with Focus on Robotics and Simulation) is a good base to get use of Synergies from both industries. Deploying precise NC controlled robots in the NDT world is his passion, as he is convinced about the added value, this technology is giving to various inspection technologies. Multi-Modality is the new approach, bringing Aerospace Manufacturing Companies one step ahead – as automated systems can combine several NDT Inspection Methods, but also contactless Metrology (CMM).
Jan Jakubek
To be announced.
Jan Jakubek, ADVACAM - Imaging the unseen, Chief Scientist and Co-founder
Jan is the initiator and cofounder of the internationally innovative company ADVACAM, which brings new imaging technologies to science and industry.
Jan got his master's degree in mathematics and a PhD in nuclear physics.
Before establishing ADVACAM, he spent more than 20 years in science, developing advanced imaging methods and technologies for particle physics experiments. He is the author or coauthor of 500+ highly cited articles in scientific journals with over 200,000 citations and the inventor or coinventor of 8 patents. His H-index is 209.
Jan is responsible for innovation at ADVACAM in Prague. His role in the company as Scientific Director is to lead the research team, design new imaging methods, organize experimental work, develop algorithms for data analysis, and supervise the transfer of scientific results to technically oriented teams. Jan received the “EY Technology Entrepreneur
of the Year 2021” award in the Czech Republic and also the prestigious „Czech Goodwill“ award in 2025.
Josef Uher
RadalyX: Portable Dual-Robot Multimodal Scanners
Robotics has a well-established position in manufacturing, yet the number of applications in non-destructive evaluation (NDE) is steadily increasing as well. Robotics brings numerous benefits to NDE — the most apparent being the automation of inspection processes. Several companies in the aerospace industry rely on ultrasonic testing performed by large industrial robots. X-ray imaging is also increasingly used, although typically limited to simple tube/detector positioning at predefined locations for single X-ray snapshots.
Our approach employs smaller collaborative robots coupled with advanced geometry calibration methods that enable almost unrestricted positioning around the inspected object. This allows the robotic system to be deployed in situ, directly where the inspection is required.
The scanner integrates X-ray imaging, tomosynthesis, and computed tomography (CT) with laser profiling. This combination significantly enhances the interpretability of results, particularly in situations where only limited-angle CT or tomosynthesis is feasible.
The system can also be extended with ultrasonic testing (UT) probes. Laser-acoustic technology is especially advantageous thanks to its broad application range and the fact that it does not require liquid coupling of transducers.
Further X-ray imaging modalities include X-ray backscattering for single-sided imaging, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping for elemental identification. A particularly promising method is X-ray diffraction (XRD), which has become applicable with robots using novel full-spectral imaging detectors.
The portfolio of inspection probes additionally includes hyperspectral cameras covering wavelengths from the infrared to the ultraviolet range.
Scans measured using the implemented modalities are recorded within the same coordinate space, which is essential not only for data visualization but also for evaluating cross-correlations among the methods.
This talk will provide an overview of the technology, selected application examples, and future development directions.
Josef Uher, CTO, Radalytica
Josef Uher is a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Radalytica and InsightART, where he leads teams focused on developing advanced X-ray imaging technologies. With a Ph.D. in Physics from the Czech Technical University, his expertise spans photon counting detectors, 3D detection structures in semiconductors, and neutron tomography. Josef has held research and leadership roles at different institutions, including the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and Amsterdam Scientific Instruments. He has published extensively on x-ray imaging, neutron detection, and semiconductor technology and holds several patents in radiation detection and imaging.
Gabriel Herl
Robo CT in Deggendorf: Next Steps towards Automated and Flexible Robotic CT
This talk presents the next development steps of robotic CT in Deggendorf. The focus is on automation and on new options for mobile and modular robotic CT. A workflow for a highly automated RoboCT process is introduced, covering scan planning with automatic collision avoidance and trajectory optimization, calibration, execution, and quality checks. The goal is to reduce manual steps and to make CT faster, more reliable and easier to use.
Gabriel Herl, Professor, Deggendorf Institute of Technology
Gabriel Herl has been researching multi-pose CT and robotic CT at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology since 2015. In 2022, he completed his PhD on CT trajectory optimization in collaboration with Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg. Since 2023, he has been a professor of robotic CT at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology, based at the Technology Campus Plattling. The Research Centre for Modern Mobility, located on the campus, specializes in areas such as robotic CT, energy storage systems, power electronics, and autonomous driving. Gabriel Herl's research primarily focuses on CT trajectory optimization, CT calibration, and developing optimized workflows for robotic CT.
Gonzalo Arnau-Izquierdo
To be announced.
Gonzalo Arnau-Izquierdo, CERN, Geneva
Markus Eberhorn
To be announced.
Markus Eberhorn, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS), Development Center X-ray Technology
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