Established in 2013, Aviation Services Research Centre (ASRC), an industry-led non-profit making organization established by PolyU in collaboration with Boeing Corporate, Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited and Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited, has been advancing the aviation industry with over HK$70 million funding support from the Innovation and Technology Fund.
Among the projects now undertaking by ASRC, the research on Laser Projected Drilling Templates and Robotic Drilling involves the design of a process using a portable laser drilling template that will save manpower and streamline the workflow of replacing parts on the outer skin of aircrafts.
Another initiative is about Mechanical Refurbishment of Aviation Parts. Researchers are exploring advanced methods for mechanically refurbishing aircraft parts that will greatly reduce the cost of maintenance. This will be achieved by developing a multi-axis probing technology and the world’s first mechanized method to remove distortion from turbine backing ring seals.
New projects have also been initiated into MRO management IT systems such as e-sign-off process documentation and point-of-use tooling management which can reduce the risk of Foreign Object Debris incidences and ensure that correct procedures are adhered to. In addition, two projects incorporating vision-recognition for blade service and robotic masking and coating are underway to enhance the efficiency of engine repair processes.
Other breakthroughs to save manpower and streamline the workflow of the industry included the high-accuracy robotic drilling and adaptive numerical control machining technology for restoring turbofan compressor blades.