Improved faster R-CNN and adaptive Canny algorithm for defect detection using eddy current thermography

Eddy current thermography (ECT) is a non-invasive testing method that combines electromagnetic induction and infrared thermography to identify flaws in materials that conduct electricity. However, ECT faces difficulties in accurately locating and classifying defects owing to its low signal-to-noise ratio and complex defect patterns. In this paper, we propose a new method that integrates an improved faster region-convolutional neural network (R-CNN) and an adaptive Canny algorithm to enhance the defect detection performance of ECT. An improved faster R-CNN is a deep neural network that can automatically detect and locate multiple defects in a single ECT image, whereas the adaptive Canny algorithm is an edge detection technique that can identify defect boundaries. The proposed method was tested using a dataset of ECT images with different types of defects. The results demonstrated that our method achieved better accuracy, precision, and speed than existing methods.