A method for assembling a damper assembly includes securing a damper interface to an external surface of a pressure tube. The method includes securing an accumulator interface to an external surface of an accumulator tube. The method includes, after the damper interface is secured to the pressure tube and the accumulator interface is secured to the accumulator tube, securing the pressure tube to the accumulator tube by press fitting the damper interface to the accumulator interface.

A method for assembling a damper assembly includes securing a damper interface to an external surface of a pressure tube. The method includes securing an accumulator interface to an external surface of an accumulator tube. The method includes, after the damper interface is secured to the pressure tube and the accumulator interface is secured to the accumulator tube, securing the pressure tube to the accumulator tube by press fitting the damper interface to the accumulator interface.

An apparatus is provided for an assembly fixture for positioning a component having a pivot pin including a rigid member, a fixed positioning pin affixed to a first point on the rigid member for insertion in a first locating hole in an assembly, a component restraint affixed to a second point on the rigid member for applying a force to the component for retaining the component in a fixed position and orientation with respect to the assembly fixture, and a pivot positioning pin coupled to a third point on the rigid member by a flexible mounting assembly, the flexible mounting assembly facilitating a linear movement of the pivot positioning pin along a linear path.

Robotic systems are provided for flexibility in assembly operations. A robotic system includes a suction module having a front side with a face shaped to match a mating component and a rear side with a coupling for a suction line. Openings extend through the face. The suction module defines internal passages connecting the coupling with the at least one opening through the face. An end-effector has a base plate, a mounting plate selectively moveable relative to the base plate, and a clamp. The suction module is selectively mounted to the mounting plate and releasably secured by the clamp. An actuator is mounted to selectively move the mounting plate and the suction module relative to the base plate.

The disclosed technology relates to a moveable panel, such as a fairing, of a vehicle, such as a semi-truck. For a number of reasons, it may be desirable to gain access to the area behind the fairing, for example, to access batteries, air/gas tanks, auxiliary power units, and/or other components that are mounted to the vehicle frame. In order to move the fairing with respect to the vehicle frame, one or more examples of a mounting system are provided that enables the fairing to pivot/swing away from the vehicle frame in a first direction (e.g., forward toward the front wheel). In some embodiments, the fairing may also pivot/swing away from the frame in a second direction (e.g., rearward toward the rear wheels) opposite the first direction. This multiple pivoting/swinging movement of the fairing enables access to different locations behind the fairing.

A frame for a vehicle includes a bumper support frame member, and a longitudinal frame member coupled to the bumper support frame member. The longitudinal frame member includes a rail member having an asymmetric crash response.

A system for assembling a vehicle platform includes a robotic assembly system having at least two robotic arms, a vision system capturing images of an assembly frame, and a control system configured to control the robotic assembly system to assemble the vehicle platform based on images from the vision system, force feedback from the at least two robotic arms, and a component location model. The control system is further configured to identify assembly features of a first component and a second component of the vehicle platform from the images, operate the robotic arms to orient the first component and the second component to respective nominal positions based on the images and the component location model, and operate the robotic arms to assemble the first component to the second component based on the force feedback.

An installation apparatus for mounting a garnish on a vehicle can include a jig, a tool and a controller. The jig can be placed on a predetermined portion of the flange and in a predetermined orientation relative to the flange. The jig can orient the tool in a predetermined orientation relative to the garnish when the jig is placed on the vehicle and the garnish is positioned adjacent to the vehicle. The controller can be configured to indicate an install complete condition based on force data and tool proximity data, where the force data is indicative of a force applied by the tool onto the garnish while the tool installs the garnish onto the first portion, and the tool proximity data is indicative of a proximity of the tool relative to a portion of the vehicle after the tool mounts the garnish onto the vehicle.

An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect includes, among other things, a bracket system having a first portion fixed to a vehicle panel and a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion for adjustment purposes. At least one first fastener holds the first and second portions together prior to assembly of the vehicle panel to a pillar. The at least one first fastener is loosened to adjust a position of the second portion relative to the pillar. At least one second fastener secures the second portion to the pillar subsequent to adjustment, and the at least one first fastener is tightened subsequent to adjustment to hold the vehicle panel in a desired position relative to the pillar.

Systems and methods for manufacturing aircraft are disclosed. For example, an aircraft manufacturing system for repetitively manufacturing aircraft comprises a first manufacturing zone configured to repetitively manufacture first aircraft subassemblies, a second manufacturing zone configured to repetitively manufacture second aircraft subassemblies, and a third manufacturing zone configured to receive the first aircraft subassemblies from the first manufacturing zone, to receive the second aircraft subassemblies from the second manufacturing zone, and to repetitively assemble the first aircraft subassemblies and the second aircraft subassemblies into the aircraft. In another example, a method for repetitively manufacturing aircraft assemblies comprises assembling first aircraft subassemblies and second aircraft subassemblies in parallel on separate assembly lines at a common geographic region; and transferring the first aircraft subassemblies and the second aircraft subassemblies to a final assembly facility located in the same common geographic region.