Pittsburgh, USA-based technology company Gecko Robotics and aerospace and defense firm L3Harris are developing an extended reality system that enables remote inspection of aircraft and can detect defects that standard visual checks cannot.
The solution, developed by Gecko, captures over 10,000 high-definition images of an aircraft’s surface using a drone equipped with a camera and converts the imagery into a precise 3D model of the aircraft’s physical characteristics. A prototype of the XR inspection solution has been tested in the field for 12 months.
The images are combined to make a digital twin that US military and industry service providers can use to view and manage operational aircraft maintenance remotely in a 360-degree extended reality (XR) environment, regardless of where the fleet is located.
The XR environment enables off-site inspections without deploying a full traveling crew, improving operational efficiency and reducing overhead costs.
According to Gecko the high-resolution imagery can detect issues invisible to the human eye under standard lighting conditions, improving inspection quality.
Jake Loosararian, co-founder and CEO of Gecko Robotics said, “The readiness and modernization of military aircraft is a critical line of effort for the US Air Force. Gecko’s partnership with L3Harris will deploy world-class technology to solve real problems, putting us at the forefront of helping the U.S. military build, maintain and modernize the assets necessary to defend our nation.”
Sean Ling, general manager, modernization and modifications, L3Harris said, “A year of prototype testing with Gecko in collaboration with multiple military customers has identified numerous applications for this technology, including virtual visual inspections, configuration review and robust defect identification. We keep agility and innovation at the heart of our operations to advance fleet readiness and safety.”
