Boeing announced that it is in the final phases of testing of a new method for building 777 airliner fuselages.
Boeing announced that it is in the final phases of testing of a new method for building 777 airliner fuselages.
Known as the Fuselage Automated Upright Build, or FAUB, this advanced manufacturing technology improves workplace safety and increases product quality. This technology has been in development by Boeing since 2012.
FAUB allows fuselage sections to be built using automated, guided robots that will fasten the panels of the fuselage together, drilling and filling the more than approximately 60,000 fasteners that are today installed by hand.
The technology is expected to be implemented in the next few years.
FAUB offers numerous benefits including an improvement in employee safety. The nature of the drilling and filling work makes it ideal for an automated solution. More than half of all injuries on the 777 program have occurred during the phase of production that is being automated. In addition, the automated system is expected to reduce build times and improve first-time quality of the build process.
The robotic system, designed for Boeing by KUKA Systems, is the latest in a series of strategic Advanced Manufacturing moves on the 777 program, which have already included new systems for painting wings and other drilling operations.
