Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Robotics developer Comau and helicopter manufacturer Leonardo are testing a rotor blade inspection system that can autonomously test blades up to seven meters (23 feet) long. The system is self-adaptive, according to Comau, meaning that it optimizes the outcome “by enabling the robot to perceive and see its surroundings, automate its decision making, and intuitively optimize the inspection process.”
Testing took place at Leonardo’s rotor blade production facility in Anagni, Italy, although the system may be moved to an MRO site. During the inspection process, the robot conducts tapping tests on the composite blades and does multispectral surface inspections—all autonomously—“to measure and verify the structural integrity with a granularity exceeding thousands of points.”
A key advantage of the autonomous inspection process is that it “ensures 100 percent accuracy within the self-adaptive process” while also improving safety for human operators and eliminating tiring, repetitive, and labor-intensive processes such as tapping tests. This also benefits Leonardo because it will rely less on the typical nonstandard way that technicians pass along experience to each other.
Both Comau and Leonardo are sharing their competencies to optimize the end-to-end inspection process, according to Comau. This includes developing “intelligent algorithms and advanced path planning that allow the robot to see and respond to its surroundings, as well as a comprehensive data acquisition and processing infrastructure that facilitates optimized sound and image recognition.”
The mechanical stimulation of the blades during the tapping test by the robot is recorded and photographed “to detect hidden and superficial defects.”
“The collaboration with Leonardo gives us the opportunity to extend our innovation reach by developing a smarter, data-driven inspection system that provides an objective assessment of key structural elements within a standardized, automated, and highly accurate process,” said Nicole Clement, chief of Comau’s Advanced Automation Solutions unit.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Leonardo, Comau Testing Automatic Rotor Blade Inspection System

Robotic testing mitigates problems associated with repetitive work

The rotor blade inspection system is self-adaptive. The robot can "perceive and see its surroundings, automate its decision making, and intuitively optimize.”

Leonardo, Comau Testing Automatic Blade Inspection System

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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