The growing push for quicker processes, higher management and better high quality within the aerospace business necessitates a brand new technology of superior automation designed to automate advanced processes that till a short while in the past may solely be accomplished manually.
On the subject of testing essential constructions similar to helicopter blades, for instance, the potential advantages of automation improve exponentially, as robotic inspection grants accuracy in addition to effectivity.
In addition they guarantee standardization of and full compliance with the testing course of by objectively finishing every assigned process.
To handle this want, Comau and Leonardo Helicopters are working collectively to develop and check a robust, self-adaptive robotic resolution to autonomously examine helicopter blades measuring as much as 7 meters.
The good inspection resolution has been developed as a joint pilot challenge and was examined on-site in Anagni, Italy, over the previous yr. The system could now transfer to a different website to ship enhanced capabilities for MRO (Upkeep, Restore and Overhaul) companies.
Leveraging a mixture of cognitive robotics, superior imaginative and prescient methods and synthetic intelligence, the answer autonomously performs tapping checks and multispectral floor inspection alongside the non-linear blade, to measure and confirm the structural integrity with a granularity exceeding 1000’s of factors.
Extra importantly, robotized inspection ensures “one hundred pc accuracy” inside the self-adaptive course of and permits operators to upskill their positions whereas having fun with higher security and well-being in comparison with the preliminary repetitive and labor-intensive course of.
Moreover, the transfer from guide to robotic automation will let Leonardo leverage the total advantages of course of engineering in comparison with a guide operation through which expertise is usually handed between technicians in a non-standard manner.
Wanting on the technical collaboration in additional element, every of the businesses has shared particular competencies to optimize the end-to-end inspection course of.
These embody clever algorithms and superior path planning that enable the robotic to see and reply to its environment, in addition to a complete knowledge acquisition and processing infrastructure that facilitates optimized sound and picture recognition.
Because the blades are mechanically stimulated by the good robotic, the sound response is each recorded and photographed utilizing a multi spectral digicam to be able to detect hidden and superficial defects.
One other highly effective function of the system is that it robotically senses the atmosphere. It first localizes the blade, which has been positioned on its helps by the operator, detects any obstacles after which calculates each cycle time optimization and collision free path planning.
All this technical complexity is hidden behind a easy and efficient person interface primarily based on low code programming. This enables the operator to program the robotic utilizing easy, human instructions: search for the blade, discover the place and execute the motion required.
In doing so, the answer shifts the operator’s function from executing repetitive and labor-intensive tapping duties to leveraging their expertise when programming the robotic to run the now standardized course of.
Such clever automation helps cut back the seeming complexity of processes and optimize their consequence by enabling the robotic to understand and see its environment, automate its determination making and intuitively optimize the inspection processes. This grants higher flexibility with out sacrificing precision or repeatability.
Nicole Clement, chief of Comau superior automation options enterprise unit, says: “Comau’s dedication to the design and growth of cutting-edge applied sciences and options for elaborate processes permits us to increase the advantages of superior automation to mission-critical sectors similar to aerospace.
“The collaboration with Leonardo offers us the chance to increase our innovation attain by creating a better, data-driven inspection system that gives an goal evaluation of key structural parts inside a standardized, automated and highly-accurate course of.”
Mattia Cavanna, head of expertise and innovation at Leonardo Helicopters, says: “This expertise demonstration challenge suits nicely in Leonardo’s technique to remodel industrial processes by way of digitization.
“It additionally aligns completely with our steadfast dedication to enhanced technical assist, which in flip yields concrete advantages when it comes to security and high quality.”