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Jul 28 2021

Towards dent measurement by drone

By Automation, dentCHECK, Insights

« Can you make dentCHECK fly? »

This is a question which our customers and prospects ask on a regular basis. Dent damage is a chronic and recurring problem on aircraft, due to loading operations, hail-storms, bird strikes, etc.. But detecting, measuring and precisely locating such damage is a long and challenging process, which can be risky for inspectors working at height. As an example, on an annual basis, hail strikes affect 25% of the worldwide fleet and requires dozens of hours of inspection. How can the manual process of dent characterization be improved?

Aircraft hit by a hail strike, courtesy of ©The Aviation Herald http://avherald.com/h?article=47a10f14

In this context, a drone seems an obvious solution.

However, embedding dentCHECK on a drone is not an easy thing to do and requires intense development.

So, the question came up – Who can we collaborate with to make dentCHECK flying?

We identified Donecle as our launch partner to realize the vision of a flying dentCHECK. Donecle as the leader of automated aircraft visual inspection has a strong expertise in drone robotics, automation and aircraft maintenance processes.

After initial tests, we accelerated our collaboration under the approval of the DGA, working together with Dassault on Rafale inspections.

Working on next generation of automated drones for aircraft inspections

The solution features Donecle’s automated drone which will scan targeted areas where risks of dents are well known (such as doors, leading edge, HTP, tail…). The acquired 3D scan data will then be sent into our damage reporting tool which will automatically map and measure dents and generate an SRM-compliant report.

Typical use cases include inspection after hail strike or after hard contact during in-flight refueling for military aircraft; dent measurement around doors which are subject to impacts during loading and unloading operations; inspection of dents and depth defects during aircraft manufacturing, and any other dent inspection in areas difficult to access.

This new unique solution will enable much faster inspections, bring better accuracy thanks to the precise location of the dents relative to the aircraft structure, improve safety of workers (no need to climb on upper surfaces and dangerous areas) and contribute to a paperless process.

The question which is on everyone’s lips is of course: when will it be available? We are making good progress and after recent promising lab tests we conducted the first field-tests on aircraft, before larger deployment 2021.

So, stay tuned, we will soon officially announce the availability of this new product!

Learn more about Donecle: https://www.donecle.com/

May 28 2021

Hail Damage Assessment on Aircrafts with panoLite™

By dentCHECK, Insights

How do you handle hail damage inspection in your maintenance operations?

Hail damage is inevitable for a  busy fleet of aircraft.  It results in significant damage to the aircraft. Whether it’s safety critical or only cosmetic, the damage creates extensive maintenance work that requires precise assessment.

Are you still mapping hundreds of dents manually?

For most maintenance organizations, coping with hail damage situations is still a pain. Assessing all relevant data by hand is cumbersome and prone to error.

8tree’s new panoLite feature for dentCHECK® tackles this major challenge and might be the right tool for you.

panoLite enables large-area mapping. It allows the operator to cover a large hail damage scenario in just one dent-mapping job. Multiple individual dentCHECK scans are automatically stitched into an accurate panorama view, within seconds!

panoLite captures and analyzes up to a two-meter-wide area, at a time.  An SRM-compliant multi-dent report is seamlessly and instantly generated.

panoLite captures and analyzes damages on areas up to two meters wide, at a time. An SRM-compliant multi-dent report is seamlessly and instantly created.

How does it work?

The dentCHECK operator applies a reusable encoded panoLite tape onto the aircraft skin. While performing the scans, the operator needs to ensure, that each scan covers at least one coded marker on the panoLite tape.

The markers on the panoLite tape allow automatic and instant stitching of the scans without any user intervention.

Using the dentCHECK Damage Reporting Tool (DRT), operators can measure inter-dent distances across the whole panoramic area with a single a click.

Finally, the operator can export an end-to-end digital multi-dent report (.xls, .pdf) which shows a panorama view of the large area with all measurement results summarized in graphical and tabular views.

Read also this article from the 2019 Aerospace Maintenance Competition: Aircraft hail-damage: What tools will aircraft maintenance crews use for the job?

Apr 27 2021

8tree and Panasonic Avionics Corporation announce partnership

By dentCHECK, Insights, Press

8tree expands service offer and strengthens presence in line maintenance by partnering with Panasonic Avionics

This press release was published on PRWeb.

 

Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) and 8tree today announced a partnership to make available the dentCHECK dent-mapping/reporting service at select Panasonic Technical Services (PTS) regional line stations: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), London Heathrow (LHR) and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD).

This new service offering will allow Panasonic Avionics customers yet another convenient, accurate and efficient way to protect their commercial aircraft investment, avoiding unnecessary cost and time delays. Further, the service will complement PTS’s existing line of best-in-class products and services, continuing its history of being a premier service solution provider.

OEM-approved dentCHECK dent-mapping service.

Now available — dentCHECK dent-mapping/reporting service at select Panasonic Technical Services (PTS) regional line stations: (LAX), (LHR) and (SYD).

“We are excited to embark on this partnership with Panasonic Avionics, driven by a common goal – to deliver accurate and objective dent-mapping reports that lead to quicker turn-around-times for line maintenance operations worldwide”, said Arun Chhabra, CEO of 8tree. “This will be possible by leveraging Panasonic’s strong global line-support footprint, coupled with the proven track-record of 8tree’s dentCHECK tool in aviation maintenance.”

About Panasonic Avionics Corporation
Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the world’s leading supplier of Inflight Entertainment and Communication (IFEC) systems. The company’s best-in-class solutions, supported by professional maintenance services, fully integrate with the cabin enabling its customers to deliver the ultimate travel experiences with a rich variety of entertainment choices, resulting in improved quality communication systems and solutions, reduced time-to-market and lower overall costs.
Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, a U.S. corporation, is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California with operations in 80 global locations, it has delivered over 14,300 IFE systems and 2,200 inflight connectivity solutions to the world’s leading airlines.

For additional information, please visit http://www.panasonic.aero

About 8tree
“We make precision 3d measurement as simple as taking a photo”
With this vision in mind, 8tree makes 3D optical surface inspection tools that solve chronic problems for multiple industries – including dent-mapping for aviation. 8tree’s products empower every operator – from mechanics on the floor, to engineers in the lab – with actionable precise measurements, portability and performance. With its patented user-centric product design and instant ‘go/no-go’ answers, 8tree is committed to making precision 3D scanning more broadly accessible – technically and commercially.

For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

 

Apr 06 2021

8tree’s Research & Development Center in Germany is now ISO9001 certified

By dentCHECK, fastCHECK, Newsroom, Press, waveCHECK

“Every crisis presents an opportunity. Although the aviation sector – one of 8tree’s core markets – was adversely impacted by the COVID-19, our intention was to emerge stronger coming out of the crisis. The ISO9001 certification sends a clear message to our customers and stakeholders saying ‘8tree is still here – stronger than ever,’” says Erik Klaas, 8tree’s CTO.

8tree performs R&D, product design and manufacturing in Constance, Germany. ISO9001 certification for this site took effect on March 19th 2021.

“Alongside the adoption of 8tree’s products by major OEMs, airlines and MROs like Airbus, Delta, SIAEC and Lufthansa Technik, the independent ISO9001 certification marks another significant milestone for us. The certification emphasizes that 8tree’s products are developed and manufactured under highest quality standards,” says Arun Chhabra, 8tree’s CEO.

Original Press Release
German Version

LinkedIn Publication

Erik Klaas, CTO, 8tree and Pia Böttcher, VP Operations, 8tree with the ISO9001 certificate.

Erik Klaas, CTO, 8tree and Pia Böttcher, VP Operations, 8tree with the ISO9001 certificate.

Jul 27 2020

Innovationprize awarded – 8tree recognized for continuous innovative strength

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press

8tree continues to be recognized for continuous innovations in its design of user-centric technologies that enhance quality and efficiency. The company’s dentCHECK tool – now the standard for damage-mapping within the aviation sector – was awarded the VR-Innovationprize. This was the 20th consecutive year in which the Baden-Württemberg Volksbank & Raiffeisenbanken awarded the prize. Learn more.

8tree receives Innovationprize

8tree receives Innovationprize

German Version of Press Release

Apr 23 2020
Robert Zehnder joins 8tree to focus on BizAv Sector

Robert Zehnder joins 8tree to expand focus on BizAv sector

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press

8tree is delighted to announce the addition of Robert Zehnder to the company’s business development team. Leveraging his career in aviation maintenance, Robert will lead and grow 8tree’s presence in business aviation, building on the early momentum of 8tree’s dentCHECK tool within that sector. In addition, he will be responsible for strengthening 8tree’s global service network. Learn More.

Deutsche Pressemitteilung / German Version of Press Release

Feb 24 2020

Aviation sector accelerates dentCHECK adoption – 150 units deployed across 3 dozen airlines, MROs and OEMs

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press

8tree’s dentCHECK tool continues to cement its position as the aviation industry’s de facto choice for damage-mapping. Nearly 150 dentCHECK tools are already in use at more than 3-dozen Airlines, MROs and OEMs worldwide, including deployments at LHT, Airbus, easyJet and Portugalia. In addition, compelling case-studies from leading airlines and MROs demonstrate that dentCHECK drastically reduces inspection and reporting times by up to 90%. Learn more.

Oct 19 2019

Lufthansa Technik locks in on 8tree’s dentCHECK to expedite damage-mapping & reporting

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press, Testimonial

Lufthansa Technik, the world’s largest MRO, has selected 8tree’s dentCHECK tool to enhance the efficiency and quality of damage-mapping across all of its base maintenance facilities and in other product divisions. dentCHECK is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D surface inspection tool with integrated augmented reality, that delivers real-time ‘go/no-go’ SRM-compliant answers at the push of a single button. Defined by and purpose-built for the aviation industry, dentCHECK is now used by the world’s leading airlines, MROs and OEMs. Read more about it here.

Sep 20 2019

Allegiant Air achieves 87% time-savings in dentCHECK tests

By dentCHECK, Insights, Newsroom, Testimonial

At this week’s 62nd annual A4A NDT Forum in Long Beach, California, Allegiant Air presented a comprehensive case study detailing the impact of 8tree’s dentCHECK tool for inspecting and reporting damage during the aircraft induction process. The study, which spanned four aircraft and almost a hundred damage locations, demonstrated 87% time-savings when using dentCHECK, compared to traditional manual methods. Read more about it here.

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