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CPI Aerostructures, Inc. announced that it is participating in Phase I of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement that Wilder Systems entered into with the U.S. Army. The objective of the project is to demonstrate the capability of Wilder’s Agile Manufacturing Robot, from repetitive drilling to complex mixed-stack drilling operations, with improved quality and throughput over more manually-intensive methods. In collaborating with Wilder Systems, CPI Aero is procuring and providing eight unique material coupon stacks representative of current aircraft structure. Materials include Carbon Fiber, Titanium, Aluminum, Corrosion Resistant Steel and Inconel.
“CPI Aero is committed to the deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies that hold the promise to improve the quality, productivity and cost effectiveness of our aerostructures programs with minimal disruption and capital investment. We are excited to see where this research leads and how the technology may be leveraged both across current programs and for bid submissions. If the project moves to Phase 2, Wilder and CPI Aero will install an Agile Manufacturing Robot into a work cell at CPI Aero for demonstration in a production environment. We look forward to collaborating with Wilder Systems on this project,” said Douglas McCrosson, CPI Aero’s CEO & President.
“The Wilder Systems team is excited to work with CPI Aero to bring our advanced drilling capability to market. CPI manufactures a diverse range of aerospace assemblies under one roof. Cooperative research and development with CPI Aero provides Wilder Systems the unique opportunity to demonstrate our robotic system's effectiveness in both conventional and mixed material drilling applications,” stated Will Wilder, CEO/Principal of Wilder Systems.
