Rolls-Royce Develops Insect-size Robots to Check Aircraft Engines

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A British engineering company Rolls-Royce in tandem with Nottingham University and Harvard University developed insect-size robots. The microbots are designed to maintain aircraft engines.

The prototype technology which was previously displayed in the Singapore Airshow at the beginning of this year included the SWARM robot, each in diameter 10 mm. A small camera would be installed in each microbot to assist the human operator in maintaining aircraft engines without taking it apart. Such a technic reportedly could reduce the inspection times.

Rolls-Royce has successfully developed the 4.5-centimeter microbots but the firm keeps further study it to compress the size.

“They [microbots] could go off scuttling around reaching all different parts of the combustion chamber,” said James Kell as the technology specialist at Rolls-Royce, as quoted from Carscoops.

In addition, Rolls-Royce along with the universities are also working on Inspect robot which would be permanently stuck inside the engine to conduct self-inspection.

“The advancements we are making in robotics are a great example of us bringing our IntelligentEngine vision to life. By exploring how we might use the rapid progress we are seeing in fields such as digital and robotics, we are ensuring that Rolls-Royce will continue to lead the way in service innovation, offering the very best value for our customers,” Rolls-Royce senior vice president of marketing Richard Goodhead said.

CARSCOOPS