Method for temporal synchronization between an automatic movement means and a contactless detection means arranged on said automatic movement means

A measurement system comprising an automatic movement means, a contactless detection means arranged on the automatic movement means, a means for recording spatial coordinates of the automatic movement means and a set of signals acquired by the contactless detection means, and a data processing means, all of said means being designed to execute steps of a method for temporal synchronization between the automatic movement means and the contactless detection means in order to measure a physical parameter along at least one defined trajectory on surfaces of a plurality of materials to be evaluated, the spatial coordinates of the automatic movement means and the set of signals acquired by the contactless detection means being recorded continuously by the recording means in their respective time scales when the automatic movement means moves, said method comprising the following steps:

• a step (a) of recording, by way of said recording means, of at least one previously defined reference spatial position along said at least one trajectory, and of a characteristic signal able to be detected by the contactless detection means, said characteristic signal being associated with said reference spatial position,
• a step (b) of searching, in the set of signals acquired as a function of time by the contactless detection means, for an instant in time corresponding to the detection of the characteristic signal associated with the reference spatial position;
• a step (c) of searching, in a set of spatial positions of the automatic movement means, recorded as a function of time, for an instant in time corresponding to the reference spatial position;
• a step (d) of translation of the respective time scales of the automatic movement means and of the contactless detection means, such that the instants in time obtained in steps (b) and (c) coincide with one another.

A method for temporal synchronization between an automatic movement device that includes a robotic arm and a contactless optical detection device arranged on said automatic movement device in order to measure a physical parameter along at least one defined trajectory on surfaces of a plurality of materials to be evaluated, spatial coordinates of the automatic movement device and a set of signals acquired by the contactless optical detection device being recorded continuously by a computer or a microcontroller in their respective time scales when the automatic movement device moves, said method comprising the following steps:

• a step (a) of recording, by the computer or microcontroller, of at least one previously defined reference spatial position along said at least one defined trajectory, and of a characteristic signal able to be detected by the contactless optical detection device, said characteristic signal being associated with said reference spatial position,
• a step (b) of searching, in the set of signals acquired as a function of time by the contactless optical detection device, for an instant in time corresponding to the detection of the characteristic signal associated with the reference spatial position;
• a step (c) of searching, in a set of spatial positions of the automatic movement device, recorded as a function of time, for an instant in time corresponding to the reference spatial position;
• a step (d) of translation of the respective time scales of the automatic movement device and of the contactless optical detection device, such that the instants in time obtained in steps (b) and (c) coincide with one another.