Construction and performance verification of an automated assembly system for aero engine principal shaft enabled by multi sensor fusion

Abstract Assembly of the low-pressure turbine rotor (LPTR) of an aero-engine requires the principal shaft to be inserted along the center of the aero-engine shaft hole precisely. The application of appropriate sensors is imperative for ensuring these aspects. In this paper, a custom automated assemb...

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Main Authors: Xiaodong Huang, Zhenyu Liu, Gaokun Shi, Jianrong Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03142-0
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author Xiaodong Huang
Zhenyu Liu
Gaokun Shi
Jianrong Tan
author_facet Xiaodong Huang
Zhenyu Liu
Gaokun Shi
Jianrong Tan
author_sort Xiaodong Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Assembly of the low-pressure turbine rotor (LPTR) of an aero-engine requires the principal shaft to be inserted along the center of the aero-engine shaft hole precisely. The application of appropriate sensors is imperative for ensuring these aspects. In this paper, a custom automated assembly system (AAS) is developed for the LPTR assembly. First, we describe the overall structure and operation of the AAS. The sensor technology employed in the system is also described in detail, including its composition and principle of operation. Second, the kinematic model of attitude adjustment unit (AAU) is established based on the pose of the aero-engine and the LPTR. The kinematic equation of the AAS is developed based on the position closure approach which is more compact and coordinate free unlike the D-H method. Furthermore, the working principle of the integrated management control system of the working parts is introduced. Finally, the one-time assembly success rate and the assembly time are tested to verify the performance of the AAS. The results showed that the one-time assembly success rate and the assembly time both improvement compared to manual. Therefore, the application of many types of sensors is beneficial for the automation and precision assembly of the AAS.
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spelling doaj-art-1f17bdd6f2d84c268fed4100a4f998e82025-08-20T03:16:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-03142-0Construction and performance verification of an automated assembly system for aero engine principal shaft enabled by multi sensor fusionXiaodong Huang0Zhenyu Liu1Gaokun Shi2Jianrong Tan3Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract Assembly of the low-pressure turbine rotor (LPTR) of an aero-engine requires the principal shaft to be inserted along the center of the aero-engine shaft hole precisely. The application of appropriate sensors is imperative for ensuring these aspects. In this paper, a custom automated assembly system (AAS) is developed for the LPTR assembly. First, we describe the overall structure and operation of the AAS. The sensor technology employed in the system is also described in detail, including its composition and principle of operation. Second, the kinematic model of attitude adjustment unit (AAU) is established based on the pose of the aero-engine and the LPTR. The kinematic equation of the AAS is developed based on the position closure approach which is more compact and coordinate free unlike the D-H method. Furthermore, the working principle of the integrated management control system of the working parts is introduced. Finally, the one-time assembly success rate and the assembly time are tested to verify the performance of the AAS. The results showed that the one-time assembly success rate and the assembly time both improvement compared to manual. Therefore, the application of many types of sensors is beneficial for the automation and precision assembly of the AAS.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03142-0Aero-engineAutomation assemblyKinematic analysisControl systemSensors
spellingShingle Xiaodong Huang
Zhenyu Liu
Gaokun Shi
Jianrong Tan
Construction and performance verification of an automated assembly system for aero engine principal shaft enabled by multi sensor fusion
Scientific Reports
Aero-engine
Automation assembly
Kinematic analysis
Control system
Sensors
title Construction and performance verification of an automated assembly system for aero engine principal shaft enabled by multi sensor fusion
title_full Construction and performance verification of an automated assembly system for aero engine principal shaft enabled by multi sensor fusion
title_fullStr Construction and performance verification of an automated assembly system for aero engine principal shaft enabled by multi sensor fusion
title_full_unstemmed Construction and performance verification of an automated assembly system for aero engine principal shaft enabled by multi sensor fusion
title_short Construction and performance verification of an automated assembly system for aero engine principal shaft enabled by multi sensor fusion
title_sort construction and performance verification of an automated assembly system for aero engine principal shaft enabled by multi sensor fusion
topic Aero-engine
Automation assembly
Kinematic analysis
Control system
Sensors
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03142-0
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AT zhenyuliu constructionandperformanceverificationofanautomatedassemblysystemforaeroengineprincipalshaftenabledbymultisensorfusion
AT gaokunshi constructionandperformanceverificationofanautomatedassemblysystemforaeroengineprincipalshaftenabledbymultisensorfusion
AT jianrongtan constructionandperformanceverificationofanautomatedassemblysystemforaeroengineprincipalshaftenabledbymultisensorfusion