Page 23 - AAA NOV / DEC 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

Sensible Worms

Deploying self-propelling, compliant robots will give

operators virtually unfettered access to perform inspections
without having to disassemble the engine

By Jay Menon

obots are proving to be the crevasses and curves of jet applied to protect the parts from
robust and accurate in engine parts to detect part defects heat.”
R turning aircraft maintenance or corrosion.
simpler, safer and quicker. Deploying self-propelling, com-
How Sensiworm Works pliant robots like Sensiworm will
give operators virtually unfettered
With the demand for robots “With mini-robot companions access to perform inspections
rapidly increasing in the aero- like Sensiworm, service oper- without having to disassemble the
space industry for repairs and ators would have multiple engine.
maintenance, MROs and original additional sets of eyes and ears
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to perform on-wing inspections,” “Currently, our demonstrations
are developing robots to automate said Deepak Trivedi, Principal have primarily been focused
various complicated maintenance Robotics Engineer, GE Aerospace on the inspection of engines,”
procedures. Research. “With their soft, com- Trivedi added. “But we’re devel-
pliant design, they could inspect oping new capabilities that
GE Aerospace Research’s every inch of jet engine trans- would allow these robots to
robotics team has developed mitting live video and real-time execute repair once they find a
“Sensiworm” for on-wing jet data about the condition of parts defect as well,” Trivedi added.
engine inspection and repair. that operators typically check.
The electronic skin-innervated Sensiworm can even measure Trivedi explained that innovative
platform resembles an inch- the thickness of thermal bar- in-situ and highly intelligent robotic
worm that moves easily through rier coatings on parts that are platforms like Sensiworm are a

ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2024 | 23