The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.

Kevin Marion Barrick

Harinder Singh Oberoi

Yuanxin Charles Hu

Branko Sarh

Jeffrey Lawrence Miller

Quang T Do

Richard Griffith Reese, Iv

Alfredo Jose Gerosa

Alan S Draper

Melissa Ann Findlay

Charles Yuanxin Hu

Jorge Alberto Arriaga

Michael J Kozak

Gregory Gudzinski

Richard Griffith Reese Iv

Melissa A Johnson

Laura Carolyn Foster

Vanco Stojanoski

John Willard Dorsey-Palmateer

Jason L Hicks

Scott Allen Mackay

Karen Lee Hills

Jeffrey Dean Farnsworth

William E McCammon

James Robert Park

Susan L Robinson

Alfredo Jose Gerosa Blanch

Ray Lanier Holden

Jerry A Grayson

Hwangyu Shin

Gi Jun Hong

Youngwoo Koh

Richard Driffith Reese Iv

Richard Griffith Iv Reese

Gerosa Alfredo Jose Jose

Harrinder S Oberoi

Alfredo Jose Geraso

An end effector for confined space manufacturing operations and methods of use are presented. The end effector comprises a pair of kinematic machines connected in series, and an operational head connected to a first platform of a first kinematic machine of the pair of kinematic machines, the operational head configured to perform number of manufacturing operations on a structure.

End effector for manufacturing operations in confined spaces

A method and apparatus for building a fuselage assembly for an aircraft. A number of fixtures may be drive across a floor to an assembly area to form an assembly fixture. The fuselage assembly may be built on the assembly fixture.

Autonomous flexible manufacturing system for building a fuselage

A fastening end effector is presented. The fastening end effector comprises a hammering insertion die translatable into and out of a housing of the fastening end effector along a longitudinal axis of the fastening end effector; and grippers positioned circumferentially around the hammering insertion die to hold a head of a fastener against the hammering insertion die, the grippers independently moveable relative to the hammering insertion die.

Fastening end effector

A sealant application nozzle comprises a manifold with a incurvate face; bristles extending outward from the incurvate face; and channels within the manifold culminating in outlets exiting through the incurvate face to dispose sealant onto the incurvate face and base of the bristles.

Sealant application assembly and methods of use

An end effector is presented. The end effector comprises a torque wrench and a first vacuum source. The torque wrench is configured to hold a collar and apply a single-sided clamp-up to a structure. The first vacuum source is pneumatically connected to the torque wrench and configured to supply a vacuum for the single-sided clamp-up.

End effector and methods of use

Methods and apparatuses for performing automated operations, such as installing fasteners at a plurality of locations along a joint, using a high-density robotic cell. A plurality of different tasks for a fastener installation operation is performed concurrently at selected locations of the plurality of locations using a plurality of single function end effectors positioned relative to the selected locations in a high-density setup.

High-density robotic system

Methods and apparatuses for performing automated operations using a high-density robotic cell. An apparatus comprises a first plurality of robotic devices; a second plurality of robotic devices; and a control system. Each of the second plurality of robotic devices is coupled to a single function end effector. The control system controls the second plurality of robotic devices to concurrently perform tasks at a plurality of locations on an assembly, while the first plurality of robotic devices independently maintain a clamp-up at each of the plurality of locations.

An apparatus for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly. A tower having a number of platform levels may be driven into a selected tower position within an assembly area. The interior of the fuselage assembly may be accessed using the number of platform levels.

Towers for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly

Methods and apparatuses for providing a clamp-up are provided. The methods and apparatuses include reaching through a first hole in a first part to grip a wall that defines a second hole in a second part to thereby pull the second part against the first part.

Method and apparatus for single-sided clamp-up

Methods and apparatuses for aligning a first hole in a first panel with a second hole in a second panel to define a through-hole. A wall that defines the second hole is gripped from within the through-hole to pull the second panel towards the first panel and thereby establish a clamp-up of the first panel and the second panel.

Methods and apparatuses for providing a clamp-up are provided. An apparatus for forming a clamp-up comprises an end effector. The end effector is positioned at a first side of a panel joint and applies a first clamp-up force to a first panel of a panel joint and an equal and opposite second clamp-up force to a second panel of the panel joint to provide the clamp-up.

A method and apparatus for positioning an end effector relative to a fuselage assembly. The end effector is positioned relative to an expected reference location for a reference point on the fuselage assembly using data from a first metrology system. After positioning the end effector relative to the expected reference location, an actual reference location for the reference point on the fuselage assembly is identified using data from a second metrology system. The end effector is positioned at an operation location based on the actual reference location identified.

Metrology-based system for operating a flexible manufacturing system

A method and apparatus for performing an assembly operation. A tool may be macro-positioned within an interior of a fuselage assembly. The tool may be micro-positioned relative to a particular location on a panel of the fuselage assembly. An assembly operation may be performed at the particular location on the panel using the tool.

Mobile platforms for performing operations inside a fuselage assembly

A method and apparatus for adjusting an adjustable retaining structure. The adjustable retaining structure may be rotated, passively, about a spherical interface as a panel applies a load to the adjustable retaining structure.

Growing community of inventors

Kingston, WA, United States of America

Kevin Marion Barrick