A new positioning system for aircraft structural assembly

The EcoPositioner is a modular and reconfigurable positioning technology that takes into consideration the positioning task as well as operational conditions and environmental influences.

Automated mating of large aircraft components offers an alternative solution for aircraft manufacturers to cut costs, improve process quality, and shorten time to market. More and more, flexible and automated systems are replacing hard jigs throughout the process of aircraft structural assembly-for instance, in the manufacturing of the fuselage sections from shell panels, the alignment of the sections to build the fuselage, and the joining of wings and tail units to the fuselage.

In the past decade, a few approaches were proposed for automated assembly systems consisting of multiple manipulators, which act simultaneously to handle the aircraft components. Especially in conjunction with the use of innovative composite materials (and particularly carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics [CFRP], which find broad use in the new aircraft programs including the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 XWB), the challenge for these assembly systems consists in the proper handling and accurate positioning of the aircraft components.