Srinivasan Laxman Thesis Abstract

AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING IN CONFINED SPACES:MANUAL AND AUTOMATION ISSUES
Srinivasan Laxman, M.S.
The University of Texas at Arlington, 2000
Supervising Professor: Panayiotis S. Shiakolas

     Aerospace industries around the world confront various limitations while performing manufacturing assembly operations. Manufacturing operations in confined spaces is one such limitation. Drilling, riveting and fastening within a torque box of the aircraft wing may be considered as confined space operations in the aerospace industry. The basis of this research is to study the feasibility of manual operations in confined spaces such as a torque box utilizing human simulation software like Transom Jack, and use the results to determine the need for automation. In the first stage, simulations are generated in human simulation software for the same operation by varying the size of the person and the “best worker” to do the operation is determined by analyzing the results generated by the software. The second stage in the research is the development of a module for the human simulation software, which can aid in obtaining an automated approach to determine the “best worker” for the operation. The third and final stage is to develop conceptual designs of serial link manipulators for automating the process.

Back to People

Back to Main