Ultrasonic testing is one of the most interesting corners of nondestructive testing (or NDT) in the world today. Using highly advanced and sophisticated technology, this technique provides detailed information about the inner workings of a piece of machinery or equipment, sensing current faults, malfunctions, and failures and even predicting ones that haven’t happened yet. What’s even better is that the technology around ultrasonic testing is far from stagnant. Instead, this NDT method is evolving and developing all the time, becoming more precise and more useful in the many fields in which it has applications. These are some of the latest advancements in ultrasonic testing technology today!

Size and Portability

Evolving hardware and software across the entire technological field has had a positive ripple effect on the testing equipment required to perform preventative maintenance with ultrasound. With the passing years, monitoring systems, consoles, sensors and receivers, and other accessories become smaller and more compact, as well as becoming easier to use. These more portable devices make the jobs of ultrasonic testing easier for advanced, skilled, or certified technicians. DST is the HVAC/R industry’s first producer of a HVAC/R technician-friendly device that doesn’t require months or years of training to use. The developers at DST moved the complexity of Ultrasound away from the user interface & up into the cloud. A typical HVAC/R Technician can be using DST’s system with less than a day’s training.

Improved Imaging

Ultrasound is a highly sensitive medium that provides detailed insight when used to inspect machinery and equipment, and time has only served to increase that sensitivity. The list of faults and problems that ultrasonic testing can identify has only grown over the years as technology has evolved, including the receptiveness of sensors and equipment and the increased precision of software like DST. With today’s ultrasonic testing, you can get an even clearer picture of what’s going on inside your equipment than you could years ago, and this trend is likely to continue, with imaging improving over the years.

Increased Technology Use

AI, or artificial intelligence technology, is one of the hottest and most interesting developments in the tech field today. People from all over the world, not just STEM professionals, are watching closely to see the many different applications of these sophisticated systems, from chatbots to medicine. AI has its place in mechanical testing as well, helping to recognize patterns, analyze data, and provide more useful insights to testers and technicians using tools like ultrasonic testing. The presence of AI in DST’s Discovery Platform has grown the service industry’s ability to transition from reactive maintenance to predictive maintenance. DST has been collecting HVAC/R ultrasound data over the past 12 years and AI has allowed the Ultrasound data to be used in not only identifying what’s wrong with a piece of HVAC/R equipment, but it now also provides recommended actions based on the AI interpretation of the ultrasound data. THIS is becoming a “game-changer” and now allows service companies to better utilize less experienced technicians for gathering the data used for diagnosing service issues. Every day the intelligence of the database is enhanced with additional ultrasound files being added and with “AI” it will continue to advance and evolve further than ever before at ever increasing rates.

With so many interesting new advancements and developments happening, there’s never been a better time to experience the advantages that DST’s ultrasonic testing can provide to you and your business. If you’re interested in learning more about DST’s patented “AI” process used for diagnosing HVAC/R Service Issues and moving to predictive maintenance, DST can help you! Contact us for more information today.