Hardware Podcasts

Aerobotix integrates robots that inspect, prepare, and paint combat aircraft

The Robot Report Podcast · 3 Aug 2023 · 1h 24m

What this episode covers

Chris Kolb, VP of Sales at Aerobotix, discusses the company's work integrating robotic systems for the inspection, sanding, and painting of US military aircraft. He details the development of a force-compliant tape dispensing end-effector and the use of gantry systems to automate hazardous coating processes, protecting workers from chemicals like hexavalent chrome. The conversation also covers the long sales cycles in defense contracting and the company's role in painting aircraft for the movie *Top Gun: Maverick*. The hosts also analyze the fire-sale acquisition of 6 River Systems by Ocado, discussing the strategic implications for the AMR industry and existing customers.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Aerobotix, 6 River Systems, Ocado, Shopify, Boston Dynamics, Ontario Power Generation, Fur Robotics
Products
Spot, Top Gun: Maverick, F 18

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Being an Engineer · 51m

    S1E26 Jet Engines, Collaborative Robots, & Flying | Seth Garrison

    Seth Garrison, Sales Manager at In Position Technologies (IP Tech), discusses his career transition from Honeywell, where he worked on Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for Boeing 737s, to a small automation supplier. He details the engineering challenges of APU testing, including extreme cold-soak conditions and pressure regulation, and explains how FAA regulatory changes regarding traceability drove his move to IP Tech. At IP Tech, he now helps engineering teams implement collaborative robots and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) to solve labor shortages and improve safety in manufacturing environments.

    Mechanical engineeringManufacturing partners & offshoring
    9 chapters

  • Hard Tech Podcast · 41m

    Colby Harvey: Drones for Aircraft Inspections, Boeing, Air Force, Air Safety | Hard Tech Podcast #13

    Colby Harvey, CEO of UltraView, explains how his startup uses autonomous drones equipped with 3D LiDAR and AI to inspect aircraft for defects like stress fractures and lightning strikes. He discusses the company's design process with Hatch Duo, its customers including Boeing and the U.S. Air Force, and the regulatory challenges of FAA approval for outdoor inspections. Harvey also addresses the impact of automation on maintenance jobs, the technical failures behind the Boeing 737 Max crashes, and the future of hardware versus software in the tech industry.

    Robotics & autonomyAI & machine learning
    8 chapters

  • Lights Out · 39m

    Make the Right Chips, Do the Right Work, Ep #12

    Max Falcone, Vice President of Sales Engineering at PushCorp, joins hosts Nick Golner and Caleb Mertz to discuss how automation can eliminate dangerous, repetitive tasks in manufacturing rather than replacing workers. Falcone explains the technical differences between passive and active compliance devices, which allow robots to apply constant force for material finishing tasks like deburring and polishing. He emphasizes the critical need for practical, hands-on experience in engineering education and highlights PushCorp's role in enabling skilled workers to transition into technical roles by automating the 'dirty, dangerous' jobs.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringScaling production
    7 chapters

  • Robot Talk · 28m

    Episode Fourteen – Aerial Robotics: taking flight

    Host Claire Asher interviews Dr. Stephen Prior of Hybrid Drones Ltd and the University of Southampton, and Dr. Jinya Su of the University of Essex about the state of aerial robotics. They discuss military applications, the DARPA UAVForge competition, morphing drones, and the aerodynamic challenges of nanodrones like the Black Hornet. The conversation then shifts to industrial uses, including autonomous solar panel inspection, precision agriculture using Sentinel-2 satellite data, and heavy-lift delivery systems.

    Robotics & autonomySensors & measurement in products
    7 chapters

  • Robot Talk · 26m

    Episode 145: Robotics and automation in manufacturing - Agata Suwala

    Agata Suwala, a Technology Manager at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), discusses leveraging robotics to make manufacturing systems more sustainable, particularly in the aerospace sector. She explains how automation is transforming manual processes like drilling and fastening, while highlighting the challenges of disassembling complex products like EV batteries for the circular economy. Suwala also addresses the barriers to robotics adoption among UK SMEs and promotes MTC's new automation accelerator program.

    Robotics & autonomySustainability & circular products
    5 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Robot Report Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.