Maintenance and Modifications
Leonardo, Comau Testing Automatic Blade Inspection System
Robotic testing mitigates problems associated with repetitive work
Comaux Leonardo robotic arm
The Comau rotor blade inspection system conducts tapping tests autonomously. © Comaux

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.”

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