Sustainment Science and Technologies, Semi-Automated Manipulator System for Aircraft Operational Sustain

Lasertronics and the Wright Construction Automation Robotics Laboratory will conduct detail analysis in Phase I to determine requirements of a Semi-automated Manipulator System, for depaint and non-destructive inspections (NDI). Analysis will be conducted across maintenance or operational organizations representating each aircrft type identified by the soliciting agency, i.e. C-130, C-141, C-5 and C-17. Requirements data will be transled into a functional specification and conceptual design for a ;system to position and operate depaint and NDI end-effectors including an adapter for using laser depainting end-effectors. System design will be submitted for review by the soliciting agency and user organizations slected to assist the review. Agency approval of the design will signal start of Phase II prototype development and test and evaluation. Use of the proposed system will enhance production flow times and personnel safety, while reducing overall costs of aircraft maintenance. Proposed system will function without significant change on either specified low-slung transport aircraft, or on other aircraft tgypes, in either commercial or military configurations.