Background of this Robotic Surface Inspection Project
This project was funded through an ARM Institute Project Call that sought to respond to pervasive areas of need in U.S. manufacturing and, specifically, address key Department of Defense (DoD) manufacturing-focused Modernization Priorities. This and the other selected robotics projects address issues found by the DoD and commercial community to be the most urgent and important that the ARM Institute’s ecosystem of 330+ member organizations can help solve.
Objective of this Robotic Surface Inspection Project
This robotics project will develop a robotic vision and visual tactile inspection system that automates high-resolution surface defect inspections of spacecraft components and commercial airplane fuselages.
Technical Approach to this Robotic Surface Inspection Project
Aircraft maintenance processes that incorporate these robotic technological improvements, particularly technology that improves the quality of the inspection as well as replacing manual operations, offers the opportunity to significantly improve the reliability, maintainability, and readiness of aviation assets and ultimately to reduce the lifecycle costs of the fleet.
The use of artificial intelligence and robotics will allow the system to standardize and learn inspection processes for many components in different industries, which would also benefit a broad subset of ARM Institute members.
Incorporating advanced robotics into aircraft maintenance processes significantly enhances inspection quality and replaces manual operations, leading to improved reliability and safety of aviation assets. This approach not only ensures precise and consistent inspections but also boosts the maintainability of aircraft by reducing human error and extending component lifespan.
The integration of artificial intelligence allows the system to standardize inspection processes across various industries, adapting to different specifications and components. This standardization is crucial for broad application and continual improvement in inspection accuracy and efficiency.
Furthermore, the use of AI and robotics in this project significantly reduces the lifecycle costs of the fleet by streamlining maintenance tasks, decreasing labor expenses, and minimizing downtime.
Robotic Surface Inspections Project Team
Siemens, GetSight Inc., Carnegie Mellon University, ATI Specialty Alloys and Components, Boeing