Lufthansa Technik is developing a robot-based guide arm

Lufthansa Technik is developing a robot-based guide arm for the
highly automated application of sharkskin-like aircraft outer
surfaces (“riblet” structure). In the future, the new painting
system, with a microstructure that reduces drag, is expected to
deliver fuel savings of around one percent. Lufthansa Technik is
planning the industrial implementation of the application process
after the completion of the “FAMOS” research project in March 2017.
The focus of the project is a guidance system for the automated
application of multifunctional surface structures.

The “FAMOS” project builds on the findings of the “Multifunctional
Coating” research project, which successfully tested the stability of
the new “Riblet” structure using small patches in a real-life
environment. In cooperation with Bremer Werk für Montagesysteme GmbH
(bwm) and Airbus Operations GmbH, a comprehensive, highly automated
system is currently being developed to deploy various individual
technologies such as, for example, cleaning, stripping, painting, and
the application of drag-reducing aircraft outer surfaces.
Furthermore, the new system is to facilitate the direct printing of
photo-realistic images on the aircraft outer skin.

The “FAMOS” research program, funded by the Federal Ministry of
Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), represents a technological
contribution to both fuel cost savings and to the reduction of CO2
emissions. “If, after the successful completion of ‘FAMOS’, we
manage to develop an industrial context with the new functional
coatings such as the ‘Riblet’ structure, Lufthansa Technik will be
making a great technological leap in terms of fuel efficiency and
environmental friendliness. This brings us significantly closer to
our goal of being at the global technological vanguard in terms of
environmentally friendly aviation,” says Dr. Mathias Nolte, “FAMOS”
Project Manager with Lufthansa Technik.

On 08 October, 2014, within the framework of this year’s MRO Europe,
Dr. Helge Sachs, Head of Innovation Management and Product
Development at Lufthansa Technik, will deliver an address on the
subject of low-drag aircraft surfaces.