Flexible Automation for cost-effective aircraft manufacturing
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Swerea SICOMP AB - Swerea SICOMP AB, Linköping |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 250 000 |
| Project duration | October 2017 - August 2018 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The aim of FlexAM was to form a large consortium featuring multidisciplinary competences that addressed the need for more cost efficient manufacturing of aircraft structures. The project included small and large companies as well as academic partners from both Sweden and Brasil. A case study; a generic aeronautical structure was designed and the technology gaps within assembly operations were identified and solutions suggested. The follow up project addressing the gaps features novel suggestions towards involving automatic and flexible solutions for future production lines.
Expected results and effects
The project included administrative and technical workpackages. The administrative part includes compilation of an IPR and establishment of a platform for safe and organized information exchange. The technical part involved identification of technology gaps within the flexible automation solutions in the aeronautical industry, a concept design demo and a draft proposal for the continuation projects.
Planned approach and implementation
The consortium designed a detailed 6-year roadmap from manual to fully automated assembly. This roadmap consists of three consecutive 2-year projects aimed at maturing the technology and fuse multidisciplinary areas-corresponding to the partners’ competences. The activities will be carried out in future programs and the FlexAM team is already in the process of assembling a proposal for the follow-up projects. In specific, a unit cell was chosen by the partners, which will implement technologies such as augmented reality, automated assembly, fixture re-configuration, etc.