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Robot Control

LUFTHANSA TECHNIK HAS DEVELOPED A ROBOT
TO TEST COCKPIT CONTROLS

Jay Menon

Lufthansa Technik has developed the first robot for fully automated Robo Sensors
tests of cockpit controls in the world. The test procedure is called The robot has integrated sensors to measure
RoCCET, which stands for Robot Controlled Cockpit Electronics the forces that occur when switches are acti-
Testing. In the future, RoCCET will be used to check the func- vated. In addition, it is equipped with several
tionality of LED lights and switches on the basis of concrete, industrial cameras with which it captures all dis-
standardized measurement data. The robot-based procedure is play instruments and any outer damage. With
currently in the integration phase. “This fully automated procedure another camera, it measures the brightness of
allows us to ease the burden on our colleagues in the workshops all displays from various angles.
and reduce the testing effort by one to two hours per component. At
the same time, the new procedure provides concrete measurement The robot is thus able to check all switches
data in accordance with uniform standards,” explains Florian Sell, and LEDs just as well as a human and perform
manager of the RoCCET project and senior engineer of automated defined functional tests. LHT has completed
test equipment systems for LHT’s Aircraft Component Services long-term testing of this data mining using arti-
division. “For example, we now have physical threshold values for ficially aged switches.
the brightness of LEDs. And with the help of data mining, we can
determine exactly when an LED has to be replaced.” The company’s next step will be using com-
bined analysis of available aircraft data and
“THIS FULLY AUTOMATED PROCEDURE ALLOWS newly-generated measurement data from
US TO EASE THE BURDEN ON OUR COLLEAGUES RoCCET for preventive maintenance. The
IN THE WORKSHOPS AND REDUCE THE data will help LHT determine when a display
or switch is nearing the end of its lifecycle so
TESTING EFFORT BY ONE TO TWO HOURS PER unplanned repairs or replacements can be
COMPONENT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE NEW reduced.
PROCEDURE PROVIDES CONCRETE MEASUREMENT
DATA IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM The robot-based test procedure will initially
be used for cockpit controls on Airbus A320
STANDARDS,” FLORIAN SELL, MANAGER OF THE and A350 as well as Boeing 787 aircraft. In the
ROCCET PROJECT AND SENIOR ENGINEER OF future, its use may also be extended to other
AUTOMATED TEST EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS FOR LHT’S cockpit and cabin controls on all aircraft types
AIRCRAFT COMPONENT SERVICES DIVISION at various locations.

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