DELTA - Digitally Enhanced Low-cost Technology for Aerostructures

随着大量飞机订单和未来飞机销量的增加，以取代现有飞机并扩大全球航空公司机队，空客正寻求提高生产率，以满足全球需求。与此同时，它必须努力降低生产成本，才能在日益增长的全球市场上保持竞争力。这就要求空客在自己的工厂和供应链中提高生产效率和灵活性。对于英国的空客来说，重点是机翼组装，这是在威尔士布劳顿的空客工厂进行的。空客希望从工业数字革命中受益，以减少生产周期和成本，同时提高质量。达美航空结构的数字增强低成本技术项目将开发和测试一套创新的数字组装技术，这些技术将构成飞机工业系统的一部分，将降低制造成本和提高制造质量，同时实现适应性。其目的是将这些技术应用于现有和未来的飞机生产系统，并适用于空中客车公司及其供应链。其中一些正在开发的技术包括：*通过捕获和使用来自制造、组装和检查的数据来实现端到端整个产品生命周期的数字数据线。*通过嵌入式传感器对组装工具进行可追溯性和控制，以实现自动生成制造记录、部件/过程可追溯性、工具寿命估计和过程认证。*成本效益高、使用现成传感器网络的大容量计量，提供亚毫米的部件和工具地理定位，并允许实时监测和产品认证。*以人为中心的自动化，使用大规模协作工作环境和自动化系统的自我感知机器人，以实现重复性和生产率。*集成自动化的智能夹具，允许快速设置、调整和从夹具中移除部件/产品。该项目将最终形成三个演示程序，将在具有代表性的环境中测试开发的技术。每一家公司都致力于不同的生产阶段，从用于生产小型组装的数字化工作站，到用于最终机翼组装的技术演示。空客将与结构组件的主要供应商SPIRIT AeroStructures和生产制造工具和设备的Atlas Copco合作，使这些公司能够开发他们的生产系统。空客还将与谢菲尔德大学、拉夫堡大学、伦敦大学学院和科学和技术设施委员会等研究机构合作。他们将为该项目带来学术创新和研究，该项目将被开发用于工业应用。

With a large number of Aircraft orders and an increase in aircraft sales in the future to replace existing aircraft and grow the global airline fleet, Airbus is looking to increase production rates to meet global demand. In parallel, it must drive for lower production costs to remain competitive in the ever increasing global market. This demands production efficiency and flexibility into its own factories and its supply chain.For Airbus in the UK the focus is on Wing assembly, which is undertaken in the Airbus Factory in Broughton, Wales. Airbus is looking to benefit from the industrial digital revolution to drive reduced production lead-times and costs, whilst improving quality.The project DELTA - Digitally Enhanced Low-cost Technology for Aerostructures, will develop and test a set of innovative digital assembly technologies that will form part of the aircraft industrial system that will reduce manufacturing costs and improve build quality, whilst enabling adaptability. The aim is to apply these technologies to the existing and future aircraft production systems and are applicable to Airbus and its supply chain.Some of these technologies being developed are:* End to end full product life digital data thread by capturing and using data from fabrication, assembly and inspection for upstream and downstream processes.* Traceability and control on assembly tools through embedded sensors to achieve automatic generation of build records, part/process traceability, tool life estimation and process certification.* Cost-effective, large-volume metrology using off-the-shelf sensor networks delivering sub-mm geolocation of components and tools as well as allowing real-time monitoring and product certification.* Human-centered automation using self-aware robots for large-scale cooperative working environment and automated systems to enable repeatability and productivity.* Intelligent fixtures with integrated automation allowing quick setup, adjustments and removal of components/product from the fixture.The project will culminate in three demonstrators that will test the technology developed in a representative environment. Each addresses different stages of production, from a digital enabled workstation used to produce small assemblies, through to a technology demonstrator for final wing assembly.Airbus will partner with Spirit AeroStructures, a primary supplier of structural assemblies and Atlas Copco, who produce manufacturing tools and equipment, enabling these companies to develop their production systems.Airbus will also engage with research organisations: University of Sheffield, Loughborough University, University College London and The Science and Technology Facilities Council. They will bring academic innovation and research to the project which will be developed for industrial applications.