Licentiate Thesis Defense-Tim Andersson

Abstract:

This thesis delves into the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for quality control in manufacturing systems, with a particular focus on anomaly detection through the analysis of torque measurements in rotating mechanical systems. The research specifically examines the effectiveness of torque measurements in quality control of locks, challenging the traditional method that relies on human tactile sense for detecting mechanical anomalies. This conventional approach, while widely used, has been found to yield inconsistent results and poses physical strain on operators. A key aspect of this study involves conducting experiments on locks using torque measurements to identify mechanical anomalies. This method represents a shift from the subjective and physically demanding practice of manually testing each lock. The research aims to demonstrate that an automated, AI-driven approach can offer more consistent and reliable results, thereby improving overall product quality. The development of a machine learning model for this purpose starts with the collection of training data, a process that can be costly and disruptive to normal workflow.

Therefore, this thesis also investigates strategies for predicting and minimizing the sample size used for training. Additionally, it addresses the critical need of trustworthiness in AI systems used for final quality control. The research explores how to utilize machine learning models that are not only effective in detecting anomalies but also offers a level of interpretability, avoiding the pitfalls of black box AI models. Overall, this thesis contributes to advancing automated quality control by exploring the state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms for mechanical fault detection, focusing on sample size prediction and minimization and also model interpretability. To the best of the author’s knowledge, it is the first study that evaluates an AI-driven solution for quality control of mechanical locks, marking an innovation in the field.