Glimpse wants to give hardware companies an X-ray view of every critical part
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Tim De Chant
Glimpse has introduced 'Explore,' a new image processing software designed to accelerate CT scan-based quality control for hardware manufacturers. By increasing inspection speeds significantly, the technology aims to prevent costly recalls like those seen in the EV battery sector.
Revolutionizing Quality Control with Glimpse Explore
In the high-stakes world of hardware manufacturing, the margin for error is razor-thin. Glimpse has officially unveiled 'Explore,' an innovative image processing software suite designed to fundamentally change how companies perform quality control. By leveraging advanced processing to enhance CT scanner output, Glimpse aims to bridge the gap between rigorous safety standards and the high-speed requirements of modern production lines.
The Cost of Manufacturing Defects
The necessity for such technology is underscored by the massive financial and reputational damage caused by product recalls. A primary example provided by the company is the massive recall of Chevrolet Bolt vehicles produced between 2017 and 2022. A microscopic defect in battery cell assembly—attributable to improper installation during the manufacturing process—led to a staggering $1.9 billion cost for LG. This incident serves as a stark reminder that even minor lapses in internal component assembly can result in catastrophic industry-wide consequences.
Addressing the EV Industry's Bottlenecks
The electric vehicle (EV) sector is currently plagued by quality control challenges, with major automotive players including Volkswagen, Stellantis, Hyundai, and Toyota facing frequent recalls. These issues often stem from the complexity of high-density battery architectures. According to Eric Moch, CEO of Glimpse, the primary barrier to preventing these failures has not been a lack of diagnostic tools, but the inherent slowness of traditional CT scanning. Previously, performing statistical sampling with CT scanners was too time-consuming to be viable for high-volume production lines.
Accelerating Inspection Through Software
Glimpse's Explore software addresses this bottleneck by significantly boosting the speed at which battery cells can be inspected. By accelerating the process by 10 to 30 times, Glimpse enables manufacturers to move beyond limited statistical sampling toward more comprehensive inspection models. This shift allows for the identification of internal defects that were previously undetectable or ignored due to the constraints of production cycle times.
Broader Implications for Manufacturing
If widely adopted, this technology could set a new standard for 'industrial transparency.' By giving hardware companies an 'X-ray view' of critical internal parts, manufacturers can move toward proactive quality assurance rather than reactive damage control. This not only protects the bottom line from the multibillion-dollar costs associated with recalls but also enhances consumer safety and trust in rapidly evolving technologies like battery-powered vehicles.
Future Trends in Industrial Automation
Looking ahead, the integration of AI-driven image processing into traditional hardware manufacturing is likely to become an industry necessity. As products become more complex and the push for sustainability demands longer-lasting hardware, the ability to verify the integrity of internal components in real-time will be a critical competitive advantage. Glimpse is positioned at the intersection of this trend, transforming how factories visualize and validate the microscopic reality of their products.