Gecko Robotics and L3Harris Technologies have announced a collaboration to develop an advanced extended reality (XR) capability aimed at enhancing aircraft maintenance and sustainment processes. The innovative technology, developed by Gecko, enables the precise detection of physical defects on aircraft, significantly improving operational efficiency and reducing costs in military and commercial aircraft maintenance.
The solution captures over 10,000 high-definition images of an aircraft’s surface, which are then converted into a highly accurate 3D model. This model, known as a "digital twin," provides a comprehensive representation of the aircraft's physical characteristics, allowing U.S. military and industry service providers to remotely manage and monitor aircraft maintenance.
The 360-degree XR environment offers engineers the ability to assess the health of an aircraft, regardless of its location. This remote inspection capability eliminates the need for a full traveling crew, streamlining operations and improving cost-efficiency. Additionally, the high-resolution imagery used in the system detects defects that are invisible to the human eye under standard lighting conditions, thus improving the quality of inspections.
"The readiness and modernization of military aircraft is a critical 'line of effort' for the Air Force," said Jake Loosararian, Co-founder and CEO of Gecko Robotics. "Gecko's partnership with L3Harris will deploy world class technology to solve real problems, putting us at the forefront of helping the U.S. military build, maintain and modernize the assets necessary to defend our nation."
“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,” said Sean Ling, General Manager, Modernization and Modifications, L3Harris. “We keep agility and innovation at the heart of our operations to advance fleet readiness and safety.”
The collaboration between Gecko Robotics and L3Harris Technologies marks a significant step forward in the use of extended reality for enhancing military aircraft maintenance, contributing to better fleet readiness, improved safety, and greater operational efficiency.
Reference: https://www.geckorobotics.com/news/gecko-robotics-and-l3harris-technologies
