Engineering news
As commercial air traffic grows rapidly and aircraft manufacturers increasingly use composite materials, operators need new ways of inspecting and repairing planes to maximise efficiency and safety.
The CompInnova project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, aims to provide those methods by developing and combining automated processes.
“There is an increasing use of composites throughout large and small aircraft structures,” said Iain Gray, director of aerospace at project partner Cranfield University, to Professional Engineering. “Developing new, efficient, modern ways to inspect those composites is a real key performance driver.”
Cranfield recently hosted field trials of the Vortex, a robot developed by Swedish CompInnova partner Luleå University of Technology. The prototype successfully clambered around a 737 jet, using air suction to climb on surfaces “regardless of their curvature and inclination”.
“We successfully tested the capabilities of the robot prototype on all different surfaces of the airplane, even the transition beneath the wing and fuselage. This is really challenging to accomplish because the robot will have to support a big payload in relation to its size,” said technical leader Georgios Andrikopoulos.
In future, the robot will carry a payload weighing about 7kg, including tools for inspection and repair, such as thermal cameras and drills. The Vortex will need to remain attached and in the right place while performing intricate and strenuous tasks.
Partners in the CompInnova project hope to develop the robot so it is autonomous and wireless. “Imagine if we could send up multiple robots and let them work collaboratively – both time and money could be saved while potentially improving safety in the aerospace industry,” said George Nikolakopoulos, robotics professor at Luleå.
Currently, aircraft inspection is done with handheld sensors. People take photographs or make infrared scans, checking for defects in a process that can take days or even weeks.
Although the partners hope to replace human inspections, Gray said passengers would not be concerned by robotic replacements. “As an engineer, I would be much more comfortable with a process that is much more sustainable and repeatable, and doesn’t necessarily need to have individuals on their peak performance.”
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.