The application of human augmentation has demonstrated benefits to include increased productivity and reduced risk of musculoskeletal injuries across a broad range of tasks. This forum will highlight the use of human augmentation technology in maintenance and how it can be utilized to protect our maintainers from injury while increasing productivity.
Agenda
1300-1309: Welcome and Overview – Greg Kilchenstein (OSD)
1309-1310: Administrative Notes – Debbie Lilu (NCMS)
1310-1335: Robot Performance Measurement (RPM)/DH Model/Path Correction software – Joe Bioty (API Sensor)
1335-1400 Joint Robotics Program Office – TBD
1400-1430: Laser Stripping Robotics – Debra Naguy (AFMC)
1430-1455: Tank refurbishment System (TRS) – Ryan White, Newport News Shipbuilding
1455-1500: Wrap-up and JTEG Principals Comments
Minutes
Event: On 25 April, 2017, the Joint Technology Exchange Group (JTEG), in coordination with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), hosted a virtual forum on “Asset Visibility; What, Where, and Condition”.
Purpose: The purpose of this forum was to highlight the use of automation and robotics technology in maintenance and how this technology can be utilized to increase productivity, improve efficiency, and create a safer environment for our maintainers.
Welcome: Greg Kilchenstein (JTEG Co-Chair) welcomed everyone to the forum, thanked the presenters and all the listeners for their attendance, and briefly previewed the agenda.
Administrative: This was an open forum. The presentations, along with questions and answers, were conducted through Adobe Connect. A separate audio line was used. Approximately 35-40 participants from across DoD and industry joined in the forum.
Large Aircraft Inspections with sUAS – Chris Eaton (AFMC) discussed the use of UAVs to help inspect large aircraft like the C-17. He discussed the new operating instructions and requirements, and the test feasibility study (TFS) involving UAVs with GoPros inspecting C-17s. Feedback from maintainers was positive, though battery life and no zoom capability limited the effectiveness. Recommendations from the TFS included: the system used is not adequate as designed, we need to define system requirements and more automated capability to make it useful, we need better sensors with zoom capability, we need a system with longer endurance to loiter for longer periods of time, and we need a user community and acquisition POC.
Robot Performance Measurement (RPM)/DH Model/Path Correction software: Joe Bioty (API Sensor) described a comprehensive suite of software to evaluate a robots actual performance against the robots original OEM published specifications. Using Volumetric Error Compensation, the software creates a corrected reverse kinematic model of the robot, and can be used to compensate robot’s error either directly through the controller (OEM permitted), or through off-line path programming software. Accuracy improvements from 10 – 14X. The software is an off-line process path planning tool that programs the robot specifically to the application utilizing the corrected values from the Volumetric Compensation to improve the accuracy.
Laser Stripping Robotics – Debra Naguy (AFMC) provided an overview and status update of the F-16 Robotic Laser Coating Removal System (RLCRS) which uses a 6 kW continuous wave fiber laser, mounted on a large Kuka 6-axis robotic arm and Hubtex electric forklift. Engineering approval to depaint the F-16 aircraft was received in Jan 17 and the first production aircraft was successfully stripped of the standard top coat on 23-27 Jan 17. A second production aircraft had multiple layers of topcoat and the primer successfully stripped on 17-21 Apr 17. They are currently finalizing optimization on the F-16 Robotic Laser Coating Removal System to optimize performance. Two production aircraft were depainted successfully, and three additional production runs are planned to achieve Full Operations Capability by summer 2017.
Tank refurbishment System (TRS): – Ryan White, Newport News Shipbuilding stated that the TRS is a remote solution for performing ODT refurbishments. These tanks are radiologically controlled and present many challenges with safety, quality, cost and schedule. TRS has the potential to eliminate reduce the safety associated with manned entry into these tanks. TRS consists of a Tank Refurbishment Manipulator (TRM) and Deployment Retrieval Tool (DRT). The major components of the TRM include a manipulator arm, a plinth and a trolley. The TRS had to be designed to perform the refurbishment in accordance with all of the requirements currently invoked. Therefore, a variety of tools were designed to accomplish every aspect of the refurbishment (i.e., swiping tool, wiping tool, painting tool, blasting tool, etc.). To date, VNS has completed final design for most of a TRS prototype unit. The rest of final design, procurement, assembly, debug, and factory acceptance testing still remains before a prototype unit will be complete and provided to NNS for internal testing, qualification and eventual implementation shipboard through a pilot unit. NNS requires additional funding to complete these remaining tasks.
Closing Comments: Greg Kilchenstein thanked the presenters for their contributions and the audience for their participation. He commented on the quality of the presentations and the importance of asset visibility to the DoD maintenance community.
Action Items:
1) Obtain “public release” versions of the presentations and post to the JTEG website. These meeting minutes, the Q&A, and those briefing slides approved for public release, will be posted on the JTEG website at https://jteg.ncms.org/ . (All presenters, LMI, NCMS)
Next JTEG Meeting: The next JTEG virtual forum is 30 May, 1:00 – 3:00 pm EST. The topic is “Composite Materials Inspection & Repair”.
POC this action is Ray Langlais, rlanglais@lmi.org , (571) 633-8019
Downloads
03 Automated Precision – Bioty JTEG Briefing
04 F16 RLCRS_Status Update_v 3
Aircraft Inspection Brief