RaDime

The rolling of sheets and strips in the metal industry requires highly precise measurement systems to ensure product quality as well as efficient and resource-saving production. Isotope emitters are currently still indispensable to measure the thickness of rolled material. However, the safety risks associated with radioactive radiation, increasing regulatory requirements regarding their use, and the limited availability of raw materials for radiation sources require new measurement methods to ensure efficient production of high quality products in the long term.

RaDime follows an innovative approach by integrating a dual band SiGe MMIC into a real time capable multichannel MIMO millimetre-wave sensor module. This system is designed to enable highly precise radar based thickness measurement, even in the presence of material bending and varying inclination angles. By using advanced technologies such as frequency band fusion in the sub-terahertz range and AI supported signal processing, a measurement accuracy of approximately 100 µm is targeted, meeting the high quality assurance requirements for a wide range of applications in rolling mills.
The radar technology employed emits electromagnetic waves in the sub-terahertz range with low radiation power. This non ionizing radiation offers significant safety advantages and represents an environmentally friendly and long term available alternative to isotope based systems. The reflection based measurement technology, as opposed to transmission based methods, is alloy independent, enables high measurement speed, and extends the measurable thickness range. The capability of imaging combined with high precision also opens up a variety of additional application possibilities.
RaDime therefore makes a significant contribution to sustainability, quality, and efficiency in metal production.