Palladyne AI Corp., a developer of artificial intelligence software for robotic platforms in the defense and commercial sectors, has received additional funding from the U.S. Air Force on work that includes surface finishing prep.
The funding comes under its contract with the Air Logistics Complex at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. Palladyne AI has also recently completed a series of Military Utility Assessment milestones, which involved performing autonomous engineered media blasting on complex aircraft components and automated sanding at heights using several commercial robotic systems.
These new milestones represent the continuation of the multi-million-dollar Phase II contract with the U.S. Air Force to validate the Palladyne IQ closed-loop autonomy software for use in various remediation activities on complex aircraft components. This is the second year of a potential four-year effort with the U.S. Air Force, resulting from Palladyne AI’s selection in the highly competitive Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program emerging from the Air Force’s innovation incubator, AFWERX AFVentures. The successful completion of the first milestones of the contract was announced in October 2024.
Palladyne AI accomplished several key milestones in advancing automated surface finishing tasks, including successfully demonstrating autonomous media blasting using Palladyne IQ software on a Fanuc M710 robot, enabling seven degrees of freedom and control along a linear rail with precise control over blasting parameters such as stand-off distance, path width, angle of incidence, and speed. A second milestone involved the completion of teleoperated and autonomous sanding using a Universal Robots UR10e robot, paired with a compliant end effector and Palladyne IQ software. This enabled high-precision sanding across contoured, overhead, and at-height surfaces, as well as customizable sanding areas and patterns for automated sanding. The use of Palladyne IQ software enabled enhanced dexterity, simplicity of use, and greater control for the operator for both tasks.
“Through our work with the U.S. Air Force, we are making significant strides with the Palladyne IQ software and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with robotic automation,” says Ben Wolff, President and CEO of Palladyne AI. “These recent Military Utility Assessment milestones, combined with the additional funding we have received for the project, demonstrate not only the technical feasibility but also the operational value of our AI software to help automate a variety of complex and variable tasks for Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex.”
Visit www.palladyneai.com.
