Aviation news international- Engine manufacturing giant General Electric (GE) has come up with an innovative solution that enables faster and more efficient methods of engine inspections and servicing. By using a new type of robotics technology, GE demonstrates the viability of on-wing, engine inspections, and repair.
Introducing Sensiworm
The Soft ElectroNics Skin-Innervated Robotic Worm, or Sensiworm, is a sensitive and soft inchworm-like robot that GE can use to gain access to areas within the engine without having to go through the process of removing the engine from the aircraft and dismantling components.
The Sensiworm can navigate through the complex curvature and crevasses of an engine and use its array of sensors to detect defective components or even wear and tear of components by analyzing their level of thickness and skin corrosion.
Apart from sensors, the Sensiworm is also equipped with cameras that can transmit real-time views and data of the engine to the maintenance personnel. The process, in fact, is akin to doctors performing minimally invasive surgeries that allow faster recovery, which is more efficient.
Additionally, the Sensiworm is more efficient than the widely used instruments such as video borescope, which is limited in the coverage of the engine it can provide. Furthermore, the Sensiworm, being untethered and self-propelling, with an onboard power source and computer, has easier access points to the engine and can provide more extensive engine coverage.
Demonstrations saw the system accurately inspect the thickness of the thermal barrier coating placed on components and look for cracks and corrosion within the engine. While right now, the system can inspect and detect issues within the engine, GE aims to provide the robot with repair capabilities so that once a defect is detected, the Sensiworm can handle its repair.
Thermal barrier coatings protect sensitive components within the engine from the high operational temperature that an engine experiences during flight.
Practical uses
Apart from the advantages mentioned above, perhaps the key element of the technology is that on-wing inspections can be performed, which reduces engine downtime and improves an airline’s operational performance.
In an event where an aircraft arrives with an engine defect or unusual engine performance reported by the flight crew, the engineers, with the help of Sensiworm, would be able to have the engine thoroughly inspected while the aircraft is at the gates, and potentially have the issue fixed without having to go through the process of taking the aircraft out of service and having the engine removed or even replacing the engine.
This increases aircraft utilization, which is more profitable for the airline and could potentially reduce disruptions to the airline’s scheduling team. The implementation of this technology could also be a boon for low-cost carriers, who depend considerably on ensuring minimal aircraft downtime or turnarounds, as an aircraft not flying is an aircraft not earning revenue for the airline.
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Robotics used in other places
Robots and similar technology these days are used in several other places within aviation. The Remote Automated Plane Inspection & Dissemination (RAPID) drone, as reported by the Royal Aeronautical Society, is a system that can be used for external visual inspection of an aircraft.
Airlines such as easyJet use this system for external aircraft inspection and have reported that checks that previously required days can now be done within hours. The system can accurately detect features as small as 1mmsq, thus directing engineers to specific areas of the aircraft. It is suggested that the use of the drone can reduce aircraft inspection times by up to 90%.
What do you think of these new technologies being used in aircraft maintenance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Source: The Royal Aeronautical Society.