Snake-like Robot Helps Automate Airplane Construction

May-05-14 A new snake-like robot able to reach into narrow crevices could improve the efficiency of airplane wing manufacturing.

Developed by the Fraunhofer Institute, the robot was created to address the predicted rise in demand for airplanes. Modern airplane wings are made up of a complicated internal structure and hollow chambers, which makes assembly very difficult, and conventional robots are not able to slip into the narrow openings.

To make the job easier, the team created a 132 lb robotic arm with eight articulated sections. The tool (or camera, if required) attaches to one end of the arm, where it can reach into the tight spaces and to the furthest cavities. Because standard motors are too large to fit into the arm sections, the team devised a patent-pending gear system that works with a small motor in each arm to create a very high amount of torque. By using the system in conjunction with a cord-and-spindle drive system, each section of the robotic arm can move independently up to 90 degrees, allowing to tighten bolts even in the narrowest spaces.

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