As compared to other areas of aviation, the speed of technological developments in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) processes has been quite slow. One of the biggest issues in operating airlines is keeping assets operationally viable while also keeping a check on MRO costs. When it comes to delays and cancellations of flights, maintenance is a key contributor. Even after investing in costlier, more efficient, and more durable engines, today’s airline operators often have to spend more on maintenance than what they do on crew or fuel.
The need for better maintenance is now being addressed by aircraft MROs and suppliers with a vast array of groundbreaking technologies and techniques like drones, robots, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchains, virtual reality, augmentation, mixed reality aids, and additive manufacturing. In this blog, we have highlighted 4 of the main progressive initiatives happening in the aircraft MRO industry that will help make airplanes more efficient.
Inspection Drones and Robots
A typical visual inspection of a commercial airplane generally takes about 6 hours. With technologies like robots and drones, there is a potential to significantly bring down this time while also providing better precision of inspection. This not only frees up the time of the engineers, but also enhances security and minimizes maintenance costs.
Inspired by cockroaches, miniature robots that are deployed in swarms will be used inside engines to conduct inspections of components that are difficult to reach and access. Luxury automobile maker Rolls Royce plans on developing a 0.4 inches (1 cm) long version of the same technology which will be even more proficient in removing and replacing defective parts.
Developed by MRO Drone, Thomas Cook and EasyJet have experimented with autonomous drones to fully inspect a widebody aircraft in 1 hour and one with a narrowbody exterior in just 30 minutes. Meanwhile, ST Technics has implemented the use of an intuitive robot from Invert Robotics that uses a patented suction mechanism to transverse and adhere to a wide range of surfaces, including glass, carbon fiber, and aluminum.
Mixed and Augmented Reality
Lori Brown, a professor at Western Michigan University, says that the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAPs) taking a step into the aviation industry means a new generation of learners. He says that to meet their needs, the aviation community has been continuously harnessing efficient technologies to look beyond traditional training methods and enhance workforce practices. Brown has paired up with Microsoft to apply Hololens for overlaying 3D holographic content on the real, physical world for training technicians in aircraft maintenance. Additionally, Boeing is also using smart glasses with AR technology created by Upskill for wire installation simplification. This has resulted in a 25% reduction in production times while lowering the error rate to zero.
Big Data
More than 38,000 new aircraft will be operational across the world by the year 2025 which will generate more data as compared to the previous generation of aircraft. In fact, the latest engines can produce up to 1 TB of data per cycle. For better management of this data, MROs are leveraging the power of big data, deep learning, machine learning, blockchains, neural networks, and other new-age informational management technologies.
Airbus has developed an open platform called Skywise for collecting tremendous loads of data generated by in-service aircraft, merging them with OEM and airline data, and conducting rigorous data analysis for the development of applications aimed at optimizing and anticipating maintenance requirements.
Hangar of the Future by Airbus
Hangar of the Future (HoF) is a project by Airbus that uses multiple technologies for automating and digitizing MRO activities in the hope of increasing the efficiency of the overall maintenance process. HoF leverages Internet of Things-powered equipment, like collaborative robots (called cobots), scanners, drones, non-destructive sensors, and cameras, collating data collected by them through its open data platform Skywise.
Conclusion
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