Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Diego Cordero-Rios, Senior Ilan Soler, Senior Ryan Mercer, Senior Addison Groce, Senior Ruipeng Zhao, Senior Zimo Yang, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Diego Cordero-Rios
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Engineering
Faculty Mentor Name
Claudia Ehringer Lucas
Abstract
Commercial aircraft maintenance is increasingly challenged by aging fleets, expanding use of composite materials, labor shortages, and rising expectations for reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Modern aircraft systems demand that maintenance technicians interpret large amounts of technical data to detect complex and hidden defects while navigating limited visibility, distractions, outdated manuals, and inconsistent flows between teams. Traditionally, technicians rely on printed manuals, tablets, or laptops, which increase cognitive load and interrupt task execution, ultimately decreasing productivity, especially in confined physical spaces. Meanwhile, the use of advanced materials, such as composites, creates inspection and repair demands that are more labor-intensive and time-consuming; the advanced material also introduces difficulties in diagnosing when using traditional Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods. These factors underscore the need for advancement in critical areas, such as aging aircraft and component wear, advanced diagnostic systems, predictive maintenance, and lifecycle management. To address these challenges, this proposal introduces Smart Mechanic Glasses, an integrated system combining Augmented Reality (AR) procedural guidance, semi-autonomous drone-based inspection and mapping, and Terahertz (THz) subsurface imaging for advanced NDT. The system is designed for hands-free, real-time diagnostic data, step-by-step procedural guidance, tool-control integration, and defect-detection directly in the technician’s field of view. This reduces workflow interruptions while enhancing inspection accuracy and supporting condition-based and predictive maintenance for aging, corrosion-prone, and wear-prone components. The overall system’s Technical Readiness Level (TRL) is currently at approximately TRL 6, with a clear path to TRL 8 through integrated testing, validation and feedback in maintenance environments, along with iterative refinement of ergonomics, materials, and imaging resolution integration. Future development efforts will focus on cybersecurity and data integrity to ensure smooth operation and safe maintenance data storage. The integrated system targets to improve inspection efficiency, enhance defect detection capabilities, and overall aircraft availability by 2032.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Spark Grant
Included in
Advancing Aircraft Maintenance - Smart Mechanic Glasses Proposal
Commercial aircraft maintenance is increasingly challenged by aging fleets, expanding use of composite materials, labor shortages, and rising expectations for reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Modern aircraft systems demand that maintenance technicians interpret large amounts of technical data to detect complex and hidden defects while navigating limited visibility, distractions, outdated manuals, and inconsistent flows between teams. Traditionally, technicians rely on printed manuals, tablets, or laptops, which increase cognitive load and interrupt task execution, ultimately decreasing productivity, especially in confined physical spaces. Meanwhile, the use of advanced materials, such as composites, creates inspection and repair demands that are more labor-intensive and time-consuming; the advanced material also introduces difficulties in diagnosing when using traditional Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods. These factors underscore the need for advancement in critical areas, such as aging aircraft and component wear, advanced diagnostic systems, predictive maintenance, and lifecycle management. To address these challenges, this proposal introduces Smart Mechanic Glasses, an integrated system combining Augmented Reality (AR) procedural guidance, semi-autonomous drone-based inspection and mapping, and Terahertz (THz) subsurface imaging for advanced NDT. The system is designed for hands-free, real-time diagnostic data, step-by-step procedural guidance, tool-control integration, and defect-detection directly in the technician’s field of view. This reduces workflow interruptions while enhancing inspection accuracy and supporting condition-based and predictive maintenance for aging, corrosion-prone, and wear-prone components. The overall system’s Technical Readiness Level (TRL) is currently at approximately TRL 6, with a clear path to TRL 8 through integrated testing, validation and feedback in maintenance environments, along with iterative refinement of ergonomics, materials, and imaging resolution integration. Future development efforts will focus on cybersecurity and data integrity to ensure smooth operation and safe maintenance data storage. The integrated system targets to improve inspection efficiency, enhance defect detection capabilities, and overall aircraft availability by 2032.