CPI Aero to support robotic manufacturing research project for US Army

Aircraft component manufacturer CPI Aerostructures (CPI Aero) has agreed to join a Wilder Systems manufacturing robot research programme for the US Army.

The company will participate in Phase I of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement that Wilder Systems signed with the US Army.

The project involves demonstrating the capability and effectiveness of Wilder’s Agile Manufacturing Robot for drilling operations with an improved throughput over more manually intensive methods.

As part of the programme, CPI Aero will be delivering eight unique material coupon stacks representative of current aircraft structure such as carbon fibre, titanium, aluminium, corrosion-resistant steel and Inconel.

CPI Aero president and CEO Douglas McCrosson said: “CPI Aero is committed to the deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies that hold the promise to improve the quality, productivity and cost-effectiveness of our aerostructures programmes with minimal disruption and capital investment.

“We are excited to see where this research leads and how the technology may be leveraged both across current programmes and for bid submissions.

“If the project moves to Phase 2, Wilder and CPI Aero will install an Agile Manufacturing Robot into a work cell at CPI Aero for demonstration in a production environment.”

Wilder Systems CEO / principal Will Wilder said: “CPI manufactures a diverse range of aerospace assemblies under one roof.

“Cooperative research and development with CPI Aero provides Wilder Systems the unique opportunity to demonstrate our robotic system’s effectiveness in both conventional and mixed material drilling applications.”