Airbus Spanish Plant Spearheads Robotics Project
Airbus's Futurassy project envisions people and robots working side by side, sharing tools and production resources. (Photo: Boeing)
Airbus's Futurassy project envisions people and robots working side by side, sharing tools and production resources. (Photo: Boeing)

The first robot built for Airbus’s Futurassy research and technology project arrived at the airframer’s Puerto Real plant in Cadiz, Spain, this week. The riveting unit, built by Japan’s Kawada, will help Airbus machinists assemble A380 rudder spars. Airbus’s Puerto Real plant leads a project to expand the automation of its assembly processes with two-arm humanoid robots to perform repetitive tasks, freeing skilled workers to engage in what Airbus calls higher value tasks.