A RANSAC-based method for detecting post-assembly defects in aircraft interiors

Automated assembly and testing have been key players in the automotive industry in the last few decades, due to the pivotal role of economy of scale possible in that industry. Until now, comparable efforts have not materialized in the civil aerospace industry. A system for automated visual inspection and testing of aircraft interiors is presented here. It aims at increasing the level of automation during aircraft testing post-assembly, providing methodologies and technologies for the inspection of both the cabin and the cargo area in single aisle aircrafts. Its expected outcomes are related to a reduction of testing execution time and costs. Additionally, automated testing procedures will increase the level of decisions consistency and reliability, by considering the human factor and addressing the tasks that cause cognitive fatigue after prolonged periods of time. Early experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.