A method and apparatus for installing a fastener. A reactive structural force is generated in a first direction during installation of the fastener. A new reactive structural force is generated in a second direction opposite to the first direction during the installation of the fastener.

A method and apparatus for performing an assembly operation. A tool may be macro-positioned relative to an exterior of a fuselage assembly. The tool may be micro-positioned relative to a particular location on the exterior of the fuselage assembly. An end effector is removably associated with an external robotic device associated with an external mobile platform. The tool is removably associated with the end effector. An assembly operation may be performed at the particular location on the panel using the tool.

A method and apparatus for distributing a number of utilities. The number of utilities may be coupled between a number of utility sources and a utility fixture. The number of utilities may be coupled between the utility fixture and a mobile system.

A method and apparatus for fastening two parts together. An initial interference fit may be created between a fastener and at least a portion of a hole extending through the two parts while maintaining a force equilibrium. A final interference fit may be created between the fastener and the hole, while maintaining a new force equilibrium.

A supply device designed as a separately positionable peripheral unit for supplying a processing device with elements, wherein a connection point is designed with a hollow transfer line that can be connected to the supply device such that the elements can be transferred in the hollow transfer line from the connection point to the processing device. The elements are transferred by means of a gas flow. The supply device has a gas flow generation device that transfers the elements from the connection point due to the gas flow provided by the gas flow generation device. The supply device is provided in an installation space, and the gas flow generation device takes in air from the environment of the supply device in the installation space of the supply device in order to provide the gas flow.

A vehicle body assembling apparatus includes a lower jig, an upper jig movable by an arm of a robot, and a joining device. The joining device performs joining operations for lower component parts (e.g., a temporary assembly of a rear floor frame) transported by the upper jig and positioned by the lower jig, upper component parts (e.g., a temporary assembly of a rear floor panel) held by the upper jig, and a temporary assembly of a vertical assembly (e.g., rear floor component) formed by overlapping the upper assembly with the lower assembly, above the lower jig at different timings.

An automated machining head with vision and procedure includes a pressure foot provided with side windows with the capacity to open and close, encasing the machining tool, associated with a vertical movement device provided with mechanical locking, vision equipment connected to a computer and a communications module. The main advantage is endowing an anthropomorphic robot, originally designed for the car industry and with relatively low accuracy, with a notably higher machining accuracy, equivalent to equipment of a much greater accuracy or to parallel kinematic-type robots, also compensating, in real-time and in a continuous manner, for off-centring and loss of perpendicularity by the pressure foot, which are common in conventional heads and are a source of errors and inaccuracy.

A method and apparatus for welding a first component to a second component. A scanning head is positionally calibrated within a localised work envelope including the components, the positional calibration being referenced to at least one datum feature within the work envelope. Profiles of the components are scanned within the localised work envelope using the calibrated scanning head. A cloud point data image of defined coordinate positions of surfaces and edges to be welded within a space envelope is generated from the scanned profiles. A robotic welding torch electrode tip is scanned using the calibrated scanning head to determine a defined coordinate position of the electrode tip within the space envelope. The components are welded using the torch, the torch controlled using the cloud point data image and the defined coordinate position such that the electrode tip is held at pre-determined stand-off positions around the components during the welding.

A method and apparatus for distributing a number of utilities. The number of utilities may be coupled between a number of utility sources and a utility fixture. The number of utilities may be coupled between the utility fixture and a mobile system.

A system is provided including a first elongated object proximate a first surface on a first side of a structure and a second elongated object proximate a second surface on a second side of the structure, the second surface and the second side opposite the structure relative to the first surface and the first side, the first object aligned with the second object at a first point on the first surface. The system also includes a first plurality of corner cubes affixed to the first object at first known distances from each other and from the first point, wherein the first object abuts the first surface at the first point. The system also includes a second plurality of corner cubes affixed to the second object at second known distances from each other and from the first point, wherein the second object abuts second surface at second point opposite first point.