Gallery: New Aftermarket Technologies At MRO Americas 2023

Aircraft inspection technology provider 8tree has launched a new version of its popular dentCHECK 3D inspection tool. The upgraded tool is smaller and 36% lighter than the previous version, making it easier for customers to store the device or transport it to AOG events. While the tool’s field of view is the same as the previous version, 8tree has reduced the distance required for measurements so users can stand closer to an aircraft they are inspecting. It has also boosted the tool’s technology capabilities, adding built-in LTE connectivity and what 8tree says is a streamlined user experience.

The new streamlined dentCHECK (left) is pictured here next to its larger legacy version (right). According to 8tree CEO Arun Chhabra, the company is seeing increased interest in its “dentCHECK as a service” model, through which customers can use the tool to inspect for damage during lease phase-in/-out operations without purchasing their own dentCHECK device. He notes that the service has been used to inspect approximately 10,000 dents on a dozen aircraft over the last 1.5 years. The company is also onboarding new customers, including the U.S. Air Force.

GE Aerospace subsidiary OC Robotics has commercially launched an artificial intelligence-powered Advanced Blade Inspection Tool (BIT) for faster, more accurate on-wing inspections of GEnx engines. The kit includes fittings for borescope ports, three inspection probes and a laptop with software developed in-house to measure and assess the condition of blade surfaces. Unlike a borescope, the BIT enables consistent images with the same angles and viewpoints, according to Adam Mallion, technical sales director at GE Aerospace. The companies say the BIT significantly reduces inspection times by up to 50%, with GE Aviation Program Leader Nathan Tainter estimating it reduces a typical inspection time from approximately 3-4 hr. to 30-45 min.

Paint and coatings OEM AkzoNobel has launched Aerofleet Coatings Management, a new digital service to help airlines and operators optimize maintenance and repainting schedules for aircraft coatings. The service uses a digital app that pulls data from manual and drone-based inspections through its partnership with Donecle. Using information gleaned from inspections, such as dry film thickness, color variation, gloss and general appearance, the app builds a predictive maintenance model for repainting schedules. AkzoNobel estimates that Aerofleet Coatings Management can help operators save between 11-20% on annual repainting costs and out-of-service revenue loss by extending the time between aircraft repainting.

AkzoNobel also debuted a new 3D version of its virtual reality paint training system, which can be used to teach technicians how to apply paint and coatings to aircraft and components more efficiently. The system can be programmed for specific components and paint specifications, mimicking a production environment so a technician can learn the optimal distance, angle and speed of the spray gun. It provides feedback to show technicians where their technique can improve, such as areas where too much or too little paint was applied. The system is being used by customers such as American Airlines and Embraer to train painters.

Kane Robotics launched its GRIT collaborative robot (cobot), which can perform sanding, grinding, polishing and material removal tasks on aircraft components. The cobot is designed to work alongside humans, performing labor-intensive tasks quickly and more safely. Kane Robotics says GRIT can perform what was previously a 12-hr. manual sanding task in 3.5 hr., freeing up technicians for other work and reducing the chance of repetitive injuries from manual labor. GRIT cobots come in three sizes and can be reconfigured for different tasks.