| Issue |
MATEC Web Conf.
Volume 401, 2024
21st International Conference on Manufacturing Research (ICMR2024)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Article Number | 08006 | |
| Number of page(s) | 6 | |
| Section | Sensors, Control, Robotics and Automation | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202440108006 | |
| Published online | 27 August 2024 | |
A Study on Improving Efficiency and Reliability of Automated Connector Testing for Aerospace Applications
1 School of Engineering, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
2 University of Angers, 40 Rue de Rennes, 49100 Angers, France
* Corresponding author: as9881i@gre.ac.uk
Automation is crucial for the future of the industry as it enhances efficiency, quality, and accuracy while reducing operating time and the occurrence of human errors. Establishing an automated factory requires significant resources, including robot installation, worker training, program development, and ensuring quality and safety measures. This paper presents a study on automating the testing process for an aerospace company aiming to enhance productivity and minimise errors. The study aimed to achieve full task automation using a Universal Robotics Arm (UR5), which undertook the tasks of retrieving, inserting, securely locking, and removing the six connectors into the equipment, effectively executing the entire process. In initial trials, wireless connectors exceeded expectations, achieving 16 cycles in 2 hours. The inclusion of cables brought about significant challenges, particularly in terms of cable entanglement and concerns regarding the durability of connectors. Proposed solutions include improving the rack system and refining the gripper’s functionalities. This highlights the project’s potential for transformative advancements in aerospace manufacturing.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2024
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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