Project description
Robotic machinery and control for improved fuselage assembly
Manufacturing of huge aircraft parts is no easy task. The fuselage is the main structure of an aircraft, a long hollow tube accommodating people, freight and equipment to which all other components are attached. Joining two composite fuselage shells to form the final component requires very large, specialised robotic tools with advanced software control and the ability to reach sections with limited accessibility. The EU-funded MultiFAL project is tackling this ambitious task, developing an automated system for joining thermoplastic fuselage shells that will accommodate the existing assembly plant system. Virtual commissioning will enable the team to test the control software before implementing it on actual fuselage shells.
Objective
The main objective of MultiFAL project is to design, develop and construct an automated plant system for joining thermoplastic fuselage shells considering three different design use-cases, taking into account the existing assembly plant system at the topic managers’ facility.
MultiFAL will consider automation and virtual commissioning technologies in order to bring both an increase in the assembly process performance and a deep understanding of the relevant factors implementing a full size automated plant following a brownfield approach.
Different assembly approaches and joining process for different use-cases will be considered, taking into account the currently existing double-sided and limited accessibility for full fuselage sections.
As a result, MultiFAL will also facilitate the adaptability of both the robotic machinery and the central control system. Objectives include reducing the commissioning time of automated plant systems up to 20% by the use of virtual commissioning tools, increasing the level of detail for production steps around 25% by implementing interfaces between plant system and production control. Additionally usability and re-utilization of automation systems by development and implementation of standardized interfaces will be enhanced. In the MultiFAL project, lean development approaches will be combined with agile methodologies to develop not only software modules for the simulation but also for the virtual commissioning of the plant system.
Moreover, following results will be achieved:
• End-to-End design approach exploiting model based system-engineering methodologies
• Flexible automated plant system enabling multi use-case coverage
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcontrol systems
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraft
- social sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomation
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
28906 Getafe (Madrid)
Spain