ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY OF TRANSPORT STRUCTURES USING ON-SITE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Techniques for flexible, on-site additive manufacturing of components or portions thereof for transport structures are disclosed. An automated assembly system for a transport structure may include a plurality of automated constructors to assemble the transport structure. In one aspect, the assembly system may span the full vertically integrated production process, from powder production to recycling. At least some of the automated constructors are able to move in an automated fashion between the station under the guidance of a control system. A first of the automated constructors may include a 3-D printer to print at least a portion of a component and to transfer the component to a second one of the automated constructors for installation during the assembly of the transport structure. The automated constructors may also be adapted to perform a variety of different tasks utilizing sensors for enabling machine-learning.
1 .- 17 . (canceled)
18 . A method for automated assembly of a transport structure by a plurality of automated constructors, wherein a first one of the automated constructors comprises a three dimensional (3-D) printer, comprising:
printing at least a portion of a component of the transport structure by the 3-D printer;
automatedly transferring the component from the first one of the automated constructors to a second one of the automated constructors; and
automatedly installing the component by the second one of the automated constructors during the assembly of the transport structure.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of automated constructors are configured to move in an automated fashion between stations under the guidance of a central control system.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of automated constructors comprise one or more sensors configured to enable each of the portion of the plurality of automated constructors to adaptively perform one or more machine-learning functions.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the one or more machine-learning functions comprise at least one of optimizing printing movement patterns, enabling motion control of print heads, printing on-the-fly for materials development, structural optimization, and receiving tools automatically for vehicle assembly.
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first one of the automated constructors comprises an automated robotic apparatus having a robotic arm with a robotic effector at a distal end of the arm, the component being transferred from the first one of the automated constructors to the second one of the automated constructors by the robotic effector.
23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the second one of the automated constructors comprises an automated robotic apparatus having a robotic arm with a robotic effector at a distal end of the arm, the component being transferred from the first one of the automated constructors to the second one of the automated constructors by the robotic effector.
24 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising controlling the automated constructors during the assembly of the transport structure including the transfer of the component from the first one of the automated constructors to the second one of the automated constructors.
25 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising automatedly moving the transport structure between a plurality of stations during the assembly of the transport structure.
26 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising automatedly moving at least one of the automated constructors between two or more of the stations during the assembly of the transport structure.
27 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising automatedly moving the first one of the automated constructors between two or more stations during the assembly of the transport structure.
28 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a third one of the automated constructors comprises an automated robotic apparatus having a robotic arm with a robotic effector at a distal end of the arm, the method further comprising using the robotic effector during the assembly of the transport structure.
29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising automatedly exchanging the robotic arm with another robotic effector.
30 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising automatedly exchanging the robotic effector with another robotic effector.
31 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the printing at least a portion of a component comprises printing a first portion of the component onto a non-printed second portion of the component by the 3-D printer.
32 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the printing at least a portion of a component comprises printing an interconnect configured to interconnect the component to another structure.
33 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising recycling metal to produce the metal powder and automatedly providing the recycled metal powder to the 3-D printer.
34 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising affixing a label onto the component for uniquely identifying the component.