AMRC's robot research cuts the cost of producing aircraft components for BAE Systems

12 July 2016

A research project to enable robots to accurately machine holes in composite aircraft components, has matured into a production system and is on track to save BAE Systems millions of pounds in capital and operational costs over the coming years.

BAE case study

The robotic countersinking technology was developed through collaborative research, led by the AMRC and involving KUKA Systems UK.

Click on the image above to download the case study 

The development technology derisked the process enabling the design of a production system. This production system has now been installed at BAE Systems in the UK, where it will be used to processes a wide range of composite components for military aircraft.

Ben Morgan, head of the AMRC's Integrated Manufacturing Group, said: "We have been able to develop a cost effective solution with the latest state of the art control systems.

"The architecture of the system will allow the technology to evolve over time and embrace the ideas behind Industry 4.0. We're now advancing the development system further, enabling process monitoring and generating 'Big Data'. Analysis of this data, i.e. 'Data Mining' will provide an understanding of quality in process."

Click here to read more

Related News

Immersed in Europe, on track in Manchester
11/04/2019
A stellar gathering of Europe’s leading players in the creative, gaming and art …
Robotics makes magnet placement 60 times faster
03/02/2021
A labour-intensive process to position powerful permanent magnets onto large ge …
AMRC welcomes UK's first open-access rotor spin testing capability
03/03/2025
New equipment has been installed at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturin …
New research paper examines remote laser cutting technique
21/08/2024
AMRC experts have collaborated with the University of Sheffield’s Department of …