LAUDENT – LAser Ultrasonic Drone ENabled Testing
Drone-based laser ultrasonic inspection for enhanced safety in aeronautics (Completed)
Project partner:
Challenge: Efficient and safe inspection of aircraft components
The aviation industry faces the challenge of reducing CO2 emissions without compromising on safety. Carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) play a decisive role here, as they offer higher tensile strength and rigidity compared to steel. However, damage such as impact or lightning damage cannot always be recognised by visual inspection. This is precisely where the LAUDENT (LAser Ultrasonic Drone ENabled Testing) project comes in.
Innovative laser ultrasonic testing using a drone
LAUDENT’s goal is to develop a non-destructive testing system for detecting damage in CFRP structures. Laser ultrasound (LUS) is particularly well-suited for this task, as it enables a high penetration depth and resolution for large-area testing. This technology is being combined with a drone for the first time, enabling a flexible and fast test system.
Important project objectives:
Testing methods and technology development
In order to optimise the development of the LUS system, a drone simulator with realistic movement is used in the laboratory. The aim is to create a fully functional system that is particularly efficient, thanks to its drone-based inspection approach for use in the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) sector.
AIRlabs Austria: Regulatory and technical framework conditions for UAS operations
In the LAUDENT project, AIRlabs Austria was instrumental in defining the fundamental operational requirements for the operation of the drone system. A particular focus was placed on the technical requirements for the UAS, the applicable environmental conditions and the legal framework from aviation and safety regulations. To this end, a comprehensive operating manual was created that documents central operating conditions, infrastructure requirements and safety-relevant aspects – such as laser safety, safe operation in sensitive environments and external influences – in detail. This in-depth examination of the regulatory and operational framework conditions ensured that the system developed would later be ready for practical deployment and regulatory approval.
Outlook
More efficient and cost-saving inspection procedures
The LAUDENT system is expected to transform the inspection process by reducing the need for scaffolding and climbers in the hangar. The cost reduction and increased efficiency could establish the use of UAS in the field of non-destructive testing (NDT) in the long term.
LAUDENT is a research project within the FFG TAKE OFF programme and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI).