Wing Panel Stringer Assembly With Movable End-Effector Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for manufacturing wing panels for aircraft are time-consuming and costly due to manual placement of stringers, which requires specific fixtures or jigs that are limited in size and design, making them inefficient for various wing skin designs.
Innovation Solution
A wing panel assembly system utilizing an overhead gantry sub-system with stringer lifting assemblies and end effectors that can move stringers vertically, laterally, and transversely to accurately place them on a wing skin, reducing manual labor and accommodating different wing skin designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual placement of stringers is used, then flexibility in handling different wing skin designs is maintained, but manufacturing time and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses vision guidance and automated control to enable the assembly system to locate and place stringers autonomously without continuous manual intervention, achieving self-service operation that increases productivity while reducing manual labor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical placement with an automated robotic system that uses vision guidance and automated positioning mechanisms to locate and place stringers, substituting human labor with automated mechanical systems to increase manufacturing speed
2Manufacturing precision
If fixtures or jigs are used to hold and locate stringers, then placement precision is improved, but device complexity and size limitations arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the positioning function from fixed fixtures or jigs and integrates it into the movable robotic end effector system, eliminating the need for complex dedicated fixtures while maintaining placement precision through automated vision guidance and positioning control
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a dynamic robotic end effector with movable positioning capabilities instead of static fixtures, allowing the system to adapt to different wing skin designs and positions while maintaining precision through real-time vision guidance and automated control
3Manufacturing precision
If dedicated fixtures are designed for specific wing skin designs, then placement accuracy is achieved, but adaptability to different designs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic end effector system is designed as a universal platform that can handle multiple wing skin designs through vision guidance and programmable positioning, eliminating the need for dedicated fixtures for each design while maintaining placement accuracy across different configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic vision-guided positioning that can adapt to different wing skin geometries and positions, allowing the same equipment to maintain precision across various designs by real-time adjustment rather than requiring dedicated fixtures for each design type
Data Source
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AI summary
A wing panel assembly system (100) includes a wing build station (112), a stringer staging station (110), and an overhead gantry sub-system (120) including stringer lifting assemblies (220) having lifting mechanisms (222) and end effectors (224). The end effector has a stringer holder engaging and holding a stringer. The end effector has an actuator operable to move the stringer holder in at least one direction relative to the lifting mechanism. Each stringer lifting assembly is configured to move the stringer (106) from the stringer staging station to the wing build station located relative to a surface of a skin of the wing panel to place the stringer onto the skin of the wing panel (102) in a determined location.