Speaker
Description
The study of artworks, due to their material complexity and state of conservation, requires a multi-analytical approach based on complementary, non-invasive, and non-destructive techniques capable of providing compositional and morphological information. However, artworks are not always planar like paintings and may present complex geometries, such as sculptures or paintings on niches. It is therefore essential that the analytical systems used for artwork investigation cab be adapted to the surface’s geometry under examination.
In this context, we present a three-dimensional scanning system developed for the in-situ analysis of artworks. The system consists of a transportable XYZ scanning platform based on a collaborative six-axis robotic arm. The robotic arm has a maximum payload of 12.5 kg, a reach of 1300 mm, and a pose repeatability of ±0.05 mm, enabling accurate scanning of large and heterogeneous surfaces.
The platform is equipped with interchangeable sensor interfaces for laser profilometry, infrared reflectography, and macro-X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF), allowing fully automated multimodal measurements. In addition, the set-up integrates a laser pointing system and a triple time-of-flight distance detection system, which enables the scanning head to adapt to the analysed surface, maintaining a constant safety distance and ensuring that the sensor remains perfectly parallel to the surface.
Dedicated Python-based software tools were developed to synchronize the robot motion with sensor acquisition, optimize scanning trajectories, and manage the large datasets generated during high-resolution automated measurements.