Photo By Jeffrey Grossi | A Mobile Autonomous Aircraft Platform for Sustainment system begins opening a...... read more read more
Steel Airmen of the 911th Airlift Wing and Steel City Spark Cell visited Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 24, 2023. The intent of the visit was to seek out new and innovative solutions to bolster manpower, focusing on the Sarcos Mobile Autonomous Aircraft Platform for Sustainment system.
The platform consists of a Guardian XM system with two robotic arms mounted to a boom lift. These arms are equipped with cameras which provide vision to the operators and Sarcos' Supervised Autonomy Framework which allows the system to perform certain autonomous maintenance tasks while under operator supervision. When human intervention is required, the MAAPS system also includes three types of controllers: a ruggedized laptop, wireless boom lift control and the Sarcos Imitative Controller to establish a leader-follower teleoperation between the controller and the robot.
Justin Bressi, business development manager at Sarcos, said MAAPS is designed to overcome maintenance sustainment tasks at height and in various environmental conditions. It utilizes robotics to keep Airmen safe and opens them up to perform other maintenance tasks.
Sarcos’ robotics and artificial intelligence technology first pinged the radar of Pittsburgh International Air Reserve Station as a result of the Steel City Spark Cells involvement with Pittsburgh’s local community.
“The Air Force works with industries in developing technologies to enhance our capabilities," said Lt. Col. Michael Conte, 911th Maintenance Group’s officer in charge of maintenance operations. “The 911th has been working with those local industries as well as colleges in developing technologies to enhance our force multiplying through our Spark Cell.”
However, 911th AW is not the only Air Force entity with interest in transforming the future of C-17 maintenance. The 62nd Maintenance Group, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, is slated to receive its first MAAPS system early in June through the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office which partners with organizations across public and private sectors to bring the most advanced technology to the Air Force’s sustainment enterprise.
Conte said the growing interest in Artificial Intelligence and robotics in maintenance operations is ultimately “to work smarter, not harder” and to use our most precious asset – our Airmen – wisely.
“I believe as AI and robotics continue to develop, they can help perform tasks both autonomously and manually to reduce the number of Airmen needed and reduce risk to Airmen overall. For example, a C-17 post-flight blade inspection would take at least two Airmen, one working on a ladder to reach the engine inlet area to inspect the blades and one to record their findings. AI and robotics can perform the task and store a digital record, with only one Airman overseeing the operation.”
While the current systems supports two functions, visual and physical inspections and lockout pin insertion, the ultimate vision for the MAAPS platform is to increase the flexibility of the system to learn and perform numerous tasks such as bolt torquing, pre- and post-flight engine checks, panel opening, visual electrical/hydraulic system checks and inspection scans.
“As we progress towards the long-term vision for the MAAPS system, the short-term goal is to improve the current system and make it as useful as possible to Airmen while removing them from dangerous situations,” said Bressi.
The 911th AW and the Steel City Spark Cell intends to continue to seek new opportunities to accelerate agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming innovative technology developers with the talents of the 911th AW’s Steel Airmen.
| Date Taken: | 05.30.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2023 08:43 |
| Story ID: | 445757 |
| Location: | PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Hometown: | MOON, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Hometown: | PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 465 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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