Automating Aircraft Defect Detection to Enhance Operational Readiness

To address the Air Force’s critical need for automating Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) processes and improving defect detection for aircraft maintenance, Bucket Robotics, in collaboration with No Strings R&D, is developing an AI-powered vision system designed to streamline and enhance inspection efficiency. The proposed system leverages synthetic CAD-based data to automate defect detection, significantly reducing the time and labor involved in manual inspections. In Phase I, the collaborative effort will focus on integrating the technology into Air Force maintenance workflows, particularly for platforms like the F-35, with the goal of improving inspection accuracy and reducing aircraft downtime. No Strings R&D will contribute its expertise in advanced materials inspection research to further refine the solution’s accuracy and adaptability. Together, the partnership will support the Air Force's objectives of digital transformation and condition-based maintenance.