GE Aerospace has developed a range of robotics technologies with applications for MRO, including engine inspections, repairs and cleaning. One of the most recent is artificial intelligence (AI) guided white light robot inspections, which use two articulated industrial robots outfitted with white light optical scanners to detect defects on high-precision engine parts. The system uses AI to capture and analyze data while creating a digital record of the part’s condition.

GE is also using a robotic non-destructive inspection device that uses open beam x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to detect microstructural variations in metal parts. The technology—which is also used by museums and auction houses to identify forged artwork—provides a view of an object’s chemical composition, allowing technicians to more easily spot part anomalies.

Last year, GE developed a worm-inspired robot called Sensiworm that uses untethered soft robotics technology. Sensiworm can move easily through the nooks and crannies of jet engine parts to detect defects and corrosion, as well as measure the thickness of an engine’s thermal barrier coatings.