Page 25 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2017 Online Magazine

COVER STORY

Airbus as part of its ‘Hangar of the
Future’ programme, has integrated
Air-Cobot, a collaborative robot
that automates visual inspection
procedures. Air-Cobot performs
aircraft inspections to deliver a
thorough diagnosis in any weather
or light condition.
by the Singapore Economic Development who manages functional knowledge for Japan, His Excellency Thierry Dana, on the
Board, the MRO Lab combines engineering Airbus’ e-solution organisation. premises of the French Republic’s Embassy.
and research talent from Ramco, a global With this input populating a collective “The use of robotics has become ubiquitous
aviation software specialist, with AFI KLM database, Airbus will be able to better in our industry,” says Sébastien Remy, Head
E&M. Launched at the Singapore Airshow, the predict future issues based on past issues of Airbus Group Innovations.
lab will work on next-generation applications and maintenance. “By integrating physical Airbus Group and the CNRS-AIST JRL
and develop intellectual property to solve software, we will enrich the way we predict are also collaborating on COMANOID,
major problems facing the MRO industry. unexpected events,” says De Flaugergues. a four-year research project launched
Airbus Group Innovations (AGI), the global in early 2015 as part of the European
Hangar of the Future research and technology network of Airbus Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme,
As part of the Hangar of the Future Group, has already launched a joint robotics which aims at deploying humanoid robots
programme, airframers such as Airbus research programme with Japan’s National to achieve non-added value tasks that
have integrated Air-Cobot, a collaborative Institute of Advanced Industrial Science have been identified by Airbus Group in
robot that automates visual inspection and Technology (AIST) and France’s National civilian airliner assembly operations.
procedures. During aircraft inspections, Air- Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Introducing humanoid technology into
Cobot performs a thorough diagnosis in any The programme is being dedicated to the aeronautical assembly lines is expected
weather or light conditions. “The Air-Cobot research and development of humanoid to support human operators in performing
robot, currently designed for inspecting robotic technology to perform complex the most tedious and physically demanding
aircraft from the ground, could be connected manufacturing tasks in factories. parts of the manufacturing process, freeing
with a flying drone to access the top of Satoshi Sekiguchi, Director General of up highly skilled workers to perform higher,
the aircraft and speed up the data capture the Department of Information Technology value-added tasks. Designing robots with
(from 2 hours with conventional means to 15 and Human Factors at AIST, inaugurated the a humanoid form will enhance both their
minutes). easyJet is testing drone inspection new project together with Jean-Yves Marzin, dexterity and versatility, making them
today, and we are also testing them on the Head of the CNRS Institute for Engineering suitable for tackling a large range of tasks
A330 FAL through the Aircam project. We and Systems Sciences (INSIS), and Sébastien in a variety of environments – all without
will also try to use drones to accurately size Remy, Head of Airbus Group Innovations. having to make significant changes to
up the damage and earlier identify unplanned The signing of the partnership agreement manufacturing processes originally designed
repairs,” says Christophe De Flaugergues, was witnessed by France’s Ambassador to for humans.
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