The U.S. military’s aircraft maintenance problem has been a pressing concern, with growing time intervals between fixes and an increasing readiness rate. A recent collaboration between Gecko Robotics and L3Harris aims to address this challenge with a high-tech solution. The partnership has resulted in the development of a system that utilizes drones to capture thousands of images of aircraft and build digital twins, leading to faster turnaround times for maintenance.
The current maintenance process is time-consuming and often labor-intensive. Inspectors must physically access the aircraft, which can be challenging due to the complexity of the planes and the need for specialized equipment. The new system, on the other hand, enables inspectors to take 10,000 high-definition photos of aircraft from multiple angles, creating a detailed digital model of the plane. This digital twin can then be used to identify critical maintenance issues, such as joints or dents, much faster than traditional methods.
The machine-vision object-detection software used in the system can detect issues that would be invisible to the naked eye, and inspectors can even perform remote inspections, eliminating the need for physical access to the aircraft. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the aircraft maintenance process, enabling faster and more efficient inspections.
Key Features of the New System
- Utilizes drones to capture thousands of high-definition images of aircraft
- Builds digital twins of aircraft using the images
- Enables inspectors to identify critical maintenance issues, such as joints or dents
- Uses machine-vision object-detection software to detect invisible issues
- Allows for remote inspections, eliminating the need for physical access to the aircraft
Benefits of the New System
- Faster Turnaround Times: The new system enables faster turnaround times for maintenance, reducing the time it takes to fix or perform preventative maintenance on aircraft.
- Improved Accuracy: The digital twin of the aircraft created by the system enables inspectors to identify critical maintenance issues more accurately, reducing the risk of damage or downtime.
- Increased Efficiency: The remote inspection feature of the system allows inspectors to perform inspections without the need for physical access to the aircraft, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation and Future Plans
| Prototype Testing | Completed with Gecko Robotics and multiple military customers |
| Rollout | L3Harris planes are already receiving the system |
| Future Plans | Continued testing and evaluation of the system, with plans to expand to other aircraft types and applications |
“A year of prototype testing with Gecko in collaboration with multiple military customers has identified numerous applications for this technology, including virtual visual inspections, configuration review and robust defect identification,”
Sean Ling, General Manager of modernization and modifications at L3Harris, stated.
The partnership between Gecko Robotics and L3Harris is a significant step forward in the development of high-tech solutions for the military’s aircraft maintenance problem. The use of drones and digital twins to capture and analyze images of aircraft has the potential to revolutionize the maintenance process, enabling faster and more efficient inspections.
The system’s 360-degree extended reality environment, similar to virtual reality, provides inspectors with a comprehensive view of the aircraft, enabling them to identify critical maintenance issues more accurately and efficiently. The remote inspection feature of the system also enables inspectors to perform inspections without the need for physical access to the aircraft, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Gecko Robotics and L3Harris marks a significant milestone in the development of high-tech solutions for the military’s aircraft maintenance problem. The new system has the potential to revolutionize the aircraft maintenance process, enabling faster and more efficient inspections.
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