Robots programmed to build aircraft

An IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 24, 2006

Airbus chooses digital manufacturing system to simulate, validate and program the robotics assembly lines for the latest Airbus aircraft programmes.

Airbus has chosen the Delmia V5 Robotics digital manufacturing system to simulate, validate and program the robotics assembly lines for the latest Airbus aircraft programmes.

This will let Airbus optimise its design and manufacturing cycle time, reducing costs and accelerating time-to-market.

The first programme to benefit from the system will be the A400M, the first Airbus aircraft entirely designed with Catia V5 and simulated on Delmia V5, from the range of IBM PLM products developed by Dassault Systemes.

This acquisition will enable Airbus to optimise programming time as well as fine-tune its production resources without disruption through off-line programming.

The software is enriched by the Fastip-Fastrim tools from Dassault's technological partner Cenit, which work seamlessly on the Catia and Delmia V5 data-model to provide trimming, drilling and riveting capabilities.

Airbus is also using the ergonomic and assembly simulation tools of Delmia V5 Human and Delmia V5 DPM Assembly to meet the increasing need for simulation in the field of digital manufacturing.

Already used for the A400M programme, it offers the ability to check accessibility during the assembly and maintenance phases of various plane parts throughout the design lifecycle.

The choice of this V5 robotics system meets Airbus' global objective to cut costs and harmonise PLM tools on the V5 platform.

The automatic solving of machine and environment conflicts will optimise machine paths, reducing maintenance costs and immobilisation time.

"We have been working hand-in-hand for two years with the IBM, Dassault and Cenit teams", said Daniel Girardot, Robotics Team Leader at Airbus.

"The three companies have designed a system that totally fits with Airbus' methods and manufacturing processes, and will lead to significant profits for Airbus".

"It will be implemented first in eight projects at different Airbus sites across Europe at the end of 2005".

Erick Craberou, Director of PLM at IBM France, said: "To remain ahead of the competition, Airbus needs to exceed constantly its customers' expectations by providing a high level of quality, expertise and added-value services, while cutting internal costs and time-to-market".

"Our deep knowledge of this industry and our tight collaboration with Airbus allows us to provide Airbus with the right answer to meet its critical product development and innovation challenges".

Yves Coze, VP of Sales, Delmia Europe, said: "Delmia offers industry-leading advanced products in the digital manufacturing domain".

"We have been providing Airbus with the latest simulation tools for many years, and our relationship continues to strengthen in robotics, allowing us to develop special applications for its use on our V5 platform".

"Certain advanced functions developed in partnership with Airbus have also been integrated into the standard V5 platform, making the benefits mutually beneficial".