Technologies for Data-Centric MRO
The research area Technologies for Data-Centric MRO addresses the development of data-driven technologies for condition monitoring, inspection and repair in aviation and mobility within the department Maintenance and Repair Technologies. Linking these technologies with manual task execution, assistance or automation establishes a strong connection to the department’s other research areas.
One focus lies on onboard data acquisition systems that enable continuous monitoring and support condition-based maintenance. Research includes the design of sensor systems as well as signal processing and diagnosis. Moreover, new inspection technologies are being developed to enable the application of non-destructive testing (NDT) in an MRO environment. The goal is to generate data with these technologies that is suitable for automatic signal processing and interpretation instead of having a traditional paper-based and tedious diagnosis and documentation. Additionally, the research area explores enabling technologies for on-wing repair, meaning repair on the aircraft without the need to dismantle parts and send them to a specialized repair shop.
A further focus is on the transfer and adaptation of repair and inspection technologies from other domains to aerospace applications. The overall goal is to increase efficiency, safety, and sustainability in MRO through the use of technologies that leverage and generate data throughout the maintenance process chain.
Key Topics
On-board Data Acquisition for Maintenance of Future Aircraft
- Investigation of new technologies to support MRO in aviation and mobility
- Development of monitoring systems for hydrogen and hybrid electric aircraft
- Concept design and data acquisition for condition-based maintenance
Inspection Technologies for Aircraft Maintenance
- Enabling inspection technologies for on-wing maintenance
- Localization and referencing of inspection data
- Signal processing and interpretation of NDT data as a basis for condition-based maintenance
Technologies for On-Wing Repair
- Enabling technologies for a smarter hangar environment
- Development of assistance systems, e.g. for scarf repair
- Technology transfer of repair technologies to aerospace applications