Automated Maximum Density Analysis Tool for Spot Factor Generation

The development and introduction of new aircraft for the Fleet, or the deployment of existing aircraft on a new carrier, requires knowledge of the deck area, or “spot factor,” that characterizes the particular aircraft type. Currently, aircraft spot factors are obtained by iterative, manual methods that are very time consuming. NAVAIR is seeking the creation of a software tool to automatically perform these calculations and free manpower for other duties. The problem of maximum density packing of airplanes in available deck space is largely equivalent to that of reducing material wastage in stamping and cutting operations in the metal-fabricating, textile, and leather industries, where it is called nesting. Optimation is a leading U.S. provider of nesting software to the metal-forming and textile industries, with more than 500 customers worldwide. To meet NAVAIR’s needs for an automatic spot factor tool, Optimation proposes to expand and customize its AxiomVE nesting software and its accompanying user interface (UI). Man-decades have gone into the development and testing of AxiomVE to make it versatile and robust. The Navy will receive the benefit of this previous development effort, and it will be leveraged by Optimation to develop the high-capability software that meets NAVAIR’s spot-factor-calculation needs.