DLA News Archive

Tag: AFRL

A multidisciplinary development team, comprised of Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, depot, industry and academia representatives, observes the successful first demonstration of an autonomous robotic incremental metal forming prototype, nicknamed AI-FORGE, at Warner-Robins Air Logistics Complex, Georgia, in late January 2023. Personnel from AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Ohio State University, the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute, Yaskawa Motoman, and CapSen Robotics collaborated to develop the robotic blacksmithing system, which uses incremental forming, a heat-assisted metalworking process that permits users to manufacture small lots of customized manufactured parts for military aircraft. During its initial test run, the artificially intelligent system operated autonomously without human interruption for over six hours.

May 3, 2023

AFRL successfully field-tests AI robot to improve DAF manufacturing capability

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Air Force Research Laboratory website — Researchers from AFRL have combined efforts with OSU and industry partners to successfully demonstrate an autonomous robotic incremental metal forming prototype at the Warner-Robins Air Logistics Complex in late January 2023.

AFRL researchers demonstrate augmented reality for aircraft inspections

Aug. 16, 2018

AFRL viewing aircraft inspections through the lens of technology

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base website — AFRL researchers are hard at work finding unique ways to make aircraft maintainers’ lives a little easier through a technology many associate most closely with video gaming.

25 passenger bus powered by a hydrogen fuel cell

Feb. 14, 2018

AF demonstrating hydrogen as alternate fuel source

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering Center website — In a recent visit to Hickam, members of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s Energy and Operations directorates were given a tour of the installation’s hydrogen production facility and shown several of the vehicles that use this alternative fuel.

Feb. 6, 2018

AFRL helps enable laser paint removal technology

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base website — AFRL Materials Integrity engineers recently played a key role in enabling the safer and more efficient removal of paint from F-16 aircraft through the newly-adopted Robotic Laser Coating Removal System.

These energy-harvesting wind turbines in Kotzebue, Alaska, are part of the Energy Assurance at Remote Radar Sites project, a one-year effort managed by the AFRL Advanced Power Technology Office to demonstrate rapidly-deployable, off-grid energy technologies for increased mission energy resiliency in remote locations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt Jason Goins)

July 18, 2017

AFRL developing rapidly-deployable, independent energy sources for remote military sites

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base website — Providing power to remote military installations is a challenge under the best of circumstances, but if power is suddenly cut off, the situation can become critical.

A High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle was tied down with both the existing tiedowns and new synthetic tiedowns to conduct a side by side demonstration during an operational evaluation on Joint Base Charleston, Nov. 28 and 29. The evaluation was a culmination of an Air Force Research Labs, Advanced Power Technology Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, initiative to reduce aircraft weight by almost 1,000 pounds for better fuel efficiency.

Jan. 4, 2017

JB Charleston test new equipment, saves Air Force millions

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the 18th Air Force website — An operational evaluation of new synthetic tiedowns and winch cables for the C-17 Globemaster III took place here Nov. 28 and 29. Tiedowns are ropes, cords, straps or chains that secure items during airlift operations. Winch cables help adjust the tension on tiedowns, securing the load.