During last week’s lecture, the use of augmented reality (AR) in aircraft inspections was discussed. Professor Ting Li’s article discusses how China Southern Airlines uses AR glasses to support maintenance engineers. The AR glasses have multiple functions: they recognize parts, display step-by-step instructions, and make it easy to remotely call in experts. The article demonstrates that AR glasses make the maintenance process more efficient and safer. The engineers’ human knowledge is enhanced by technology (Li, Wang & Wu, 2022).
I recently came across an interesting article about safety inspections at Schiphol Airport. For the first time, KLM conducted a technical inspection outside the maintenance hangar using drones (Dronewatch, 2024). Previously, aircraft were first moved to a maintenance hangar to conduct the inspection there. The drones fly around the aircraft in the open air to record potential damage from hail or lightning. The drone films everything, and the footage is subsequently analyzed with software. The advantage of this method is that it saves time, thus reducing the risk of delays.
These two cases demonstrate different perspectives. With AR, the technology augments and enriches the human, increasing the engineer’s capacity. Conversely, the drone inspection performs the inspection independently, focusing primarily on speed and efficiency. In my opinion, combining the two technologies creates a smart, fast, and safe maintenance service: drones for rapid problem detection, AR glasses for more complex repairs. However, several questions remain about these technologies. It’s not yet clear how reliable drones are in severe weather. I also wonder what role maintenance personnel will play in the future. What do you think: will drones take over the role of engineers with AR glasses, or will future inspections be performed using a combination of the two technologies?
References
De Jager, W., & De Jager, W. (2024, August 6). Eerste KLM-vliegtuiginspectie buiten hangar met drone op Schiphol | Dronewatch. Dronewatch | Serieus Over Drones. https://www.dronewatch.nl/2024/08/06/eerste-klm-vliegtuiginspectie-buiten-hangar-met-drone-op-schiphol/
Li, T., Wang, J., & Wu, F. (2022, April 5). How one airline is using AR to improve operations. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/04/how-one-airline-is-using-ar-to-improve-operations
