Piper Aircraft has integrated an Agile Manufacturing Robot (AMR) from Wilder Systems into its M600/SLS production line. In partnership with Wilder, Piper has been working on the AMR project since August 2022. To date, the unit has gone through factory calibration and testing with full production handoff expected by the end of the month.
“Investing in the latest manufacturing technology is of the utmost importance to Piper Aircraft,” said Greg Spadaro, Piper vice president of operations and supply chain. “As we’ve been manufacturing hand-crafted aircraft for over 85 years, we’re constantly finding new methods of increasing both product quality and manufacturing efficiencies to benefit our customers.”
According to Piper, the AMR is an autonomous system that “incorporates a light duty drill unit, HSK-E25 tool holder, and programmable drill process.” For the M600/SLS production line, the robot has been programmed to drill PA-46-600TP wings. The unit measures 12 feet by 8.5 feet and includes a safety system designed to “cease operation if an area within the scanner is triggered.”
Picture?
Ah automation.
What happens when 100% of goods and services can be created and provided by say 50% of the available workers? What is to become of the 50% that are simply not needed?
Are we there now?