A helping hand working alongside human experts.

At the CRMA (our subsidiary specializing in part and engine module repairs ), innovation teams have been experimenting with the use of cutting-edge “Cobots” in order to automate selected tasks. So what’s all the fuss about?

New-generation industrial robots

The particularity - and added value - of cobots is that they can work directly and interactively with humans. While industrial robots are extremely efficient in productivity terms, they completely lack sensitivity and must accordingly be operated in secure, closed, areas as they could otherwise present a risk for humans during operation. Cobots, for their part, can be configured for speed and workload and are sensitive to their environment: whenever they encounter an obstacle they go into sleep mode. They can thus be deployed for collaborative applications at the same time and in the same space as humans, with no danger to them.

A first, conclusive PoC

The first cobot operated by CRMA has already proven its worth in the framework of an initial experiment, or Proof of Concept (PoC). The application tested involves contactless measuring of parts. The cobot is equipped with two laser telemeters and runs them over the surface of the part concerned in a predefined area to establish a minimum thickness value, which will tell us if it can be repaired." The traditional inspection process implemented in the "pre-cobot" era does not offer the same level of detail and precision as automated measurement, which represents a technological leap forward in terms of assessing the repair ability of parts.

The gains are significant for CRMA, as the previous procedure could generate an additional cost of up to 80,000 euros per year; the same goes for its customer airlines, who benefit from lower prices. Automated measurement not only optimizes the inspection cycle of parts, but it also allows for a more accurate definition of the work scope.

"After three weeks of experimentation, we concluded that the procedure was viable and would now be industrialized. A second cobot was immediately deployed, dedicated to producing this initial application. This cobot has been in operation for several years now, during which its added value has never been questioned. Several PoCs have since been conducted for various applications, leading to a multiplication of cobots in the industrial environment. Today, cobots at CRMA perform tasks such as ultrasonic inspections, dimensional measurements, grinding, and part cleaning—all developed and industrialized in-house at the MRO Lab."

Erwan Guérin
Director of Innovation at CRMA

Ultra-precise readings
Automatic reduction of TAT (Turnaround Time) and costs
The efficiency and productivity of a robot, yet flexible enough to work alongside human-led operations
Records and generates fully traceable data