Industrial Robotics and Intelligent Systems

Idaho National Laboratory’s industrial robotics team is well-known for its advancements in industrial welding. Researchers have published several papers on their work and patented several inventions, including sensors, spectrometers, repair systems and inspection apparatus.

Accomplishments

Patents/Invention Disclosures

• "Apparatus and Method for Sealing a Container," U.S. Patent Pending #200600186856.
• "Welding Apparatus and Methods for Using Ultrasonic Sensing," U.S. Patent #7094989.
• "Grinding Assembly, Grinding Apparatus, Weld Joint Defect Repair System, and Methods," U.S. Patent #6949005.
• "Learning-Based Controller for Biotechnology Processing, and Method of Using," U.S. Patent #6792336.
• "Method for the Concurrent Ultrasonic Inspection of Partially Completed Welds," U.S. Patent #6484584.
• "Apparatus for the Concurrent Inspection of Partially Completed Welds," U.S. Patent #6365873.
• "Position Detectors, Methods of Detecting Position and Methods of Providing Positional Detectors," U.S. Patent #6385857.
• "Inspection Apparatus for Evaluating a Partially Completed Weld," U.S. Patent #6178819.
• "Dual Mode Ion Mobility Spectrometer and Method for Ion Mobility Spectrometry," U.S. Patent #7259369.
• "Continuous Sampling Ion Mobility Spectrometers and Methods Therefore," U.S. Patent #7518105.
• "Ion Mobility Spectrometers and Methods for Ion Mobility Spectrometry," U.S. Patent #7518106.
• "Method and Apparatus for Assessing Weld Quality," U.S. Patent #6236017.
• "Apparatus for Gas-Metal Arc Deposition," U.S. Patent #5052331.
• "Method for Gas-Metal Arc Deposition," U.S. Patent #4970091.
• "Integrated Optical Sensor," U.S. Patent #5275327.
• "Method for Controlling Gas-Metal Arc Welding," U.S. Patent #4825038.
• "Concurrent Ultrasound Weld Evaluation System," U.S. Patent #4712722.

Publications

• 2009 C.V. Shelton-Davis, T.R. McJunkin, "Remote Closure Operations," NEI Dry Storage Forum, Bonita Springs, FL, May 2009.
• 2009 C.I. Nichol, M. Manic, "Video Game Device Haptic Interface for Remote Arc Welding," in HSI 2009, 2nd IEEE Conference on Human System Interaction, Catania, Italy, 2009.
• 2008 T.R. McJunkin, J.R. Scott, "Fuzzy Logic Classification of Imaging Laser Desorption Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry Data," Journal of the Idaho Academy of Science, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 1-8, June 2008.
• 2008 C.R. Tolle, T.R. McJunkin, D.J. Gorsich, "An Efficient Implementation of the Gliding Box Lacunarity Algorithm," Physica D, vol. 237, no. 3, pp. 306-315, March 2008.
• 2008 H.B. Smartt, D.P. Pace, E.D. Larsen, T.R. McJunkin, C.I. Nichol, K.L. Skinner, M.L. Clark, T.G. Kaser, "Robotic Welding and Inspection System," 8th International Conference on Trends in Welding Research, Pine Mountain, GA, June 2008.
• 2008 C.D. Richardson, N.W. Hinman, T.R. McJunkin, J.M. Kotler, J.R. Scott, "Exploring Biosignatures Associated with Thenardite by Geomatrix-assisted Laser Desportion/Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (GALDI-FTICR-MS)," Geomicrobiology Journal, vol. 25, nos. 7-8, 2008.
• 2008 T.R. McJunkin, J.R. Scott, "Application of Fuzzy Logic for Automated Interpretation of Mass Spectra," in Fuzzy Logic:  Theory, Programming and Applications, R.E. Vargas, Ed., Hauppauge, New York:  Nova Science Publishers, in press 2008.
• 2008 H. Lai, T.R. McJunkin, C.J. Miller, J.R Scott, J.R. Almirall, "The Predictive Power of SIMION/SDS Simulation for Modelling Ion Mobility Spectrometry Instruments," International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, in press July 2008.
• 2007 D.C. Kunerth, T.R. McJunkin, T.G. Kaser, "Remote Weld Inspections," presented at 43rd Weapons Agency Nondestructive Testing Organization (WANTO) Meeting, Idaho Falls, ID September 19, 2007.
• 2007 D.A. Dahl, T.R. McJunkin, J.R. Scott, "Comparison of Ion Trajectories in Vacuum and Viscous Environments Using SIMION:  Insights for Instrument Design," International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, vol. 266, no. 1-3, pp. 156-165, October 2007.
• 2007 W.L. Hurt, D.E. Clark, R.E. Mizia, C.V. Robino, "Overview of a Welding Development Program for a Ni-Cr-Mo-Gd Alloy," Proceedings of the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Nuclear Society, Boston, June 2007.
• 2006 T.R. McJunkin, J.M. Davis, D.C. Kunerth, A.D. Watkins, "Ultrasonic Phased Array Implementation of the Inside Diameter Creeping Wave Sizing Methodology," in 5th International Conference on NDE in Relation to Structural Integrity for Nuclear and Pressurized Components, pp. 690-696, San Diego, CA, May 2006.
• 2006 E.D. Larsen, A.D. Watkins, T.R. McJunkin, D.P. Pace, R.J. Bisoi, "Remote Welding, NDE, and Repair of DOE Standardized Canisters," in 5th International Conference on NDE in Relation to Structural Integrity for Nuclear and Pressurized Components, pp. 929-942, San Diego, CA, May 2006.
• 2006 A.D. Watkins, D.C. Kunerth, T.R. McJunkin, "Eddy Current Examination of Spent Nuclear Fuel Canister Closure Welds," in 2006 International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference, Las Vegas, NV, April 2006.
• 2006 H.B. Smartt, A.D. Watkins, D.P. Pace, R.J. Bitsoi, E.D. Larsen, T.R. McJunkin, C.R. Tolle, "Yucca Mountain:  Design of a Welding and Inspection System for Waste Package Closure," in 2006 International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference, Las Vegas, NV, April 2006.
• 2006 T.R. McJunkin, K.S. Miller, C.R. Tolle, "Characterization of Defects in Coiled Tubing from Magnetic-Flux-Leakage Data," highlighted in Journal of Petroleum Technology, p. 78, June 2006.
• 2006 T.C. Totemeier, D.E. Clark, "Effect of transient thermal cycles in a supercritical water-cooled reactor on the microstructure and properties of ferritic-martensitic steels," Journal of Nuclear Materials, 355 (2006) 104-113.
• 2005 D.E. Clark, K.S. Miller, C.R. Tolle, "Tool design in friction stir processing:  dynamic forces and material flow," Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference and Trends in Wedling Research, Pine Mountain, Georgia, May 2005, pp. 173-178.
• 2004 G.E. Cook, D.E. Clark, A.M. Strauss, "Robotic Friction Stir Welding," Industrial Robot, V31:1, January 2004.