After Boeing, robots arrive at Airbus...

Will we one day fly in a fully robot constructed plane? One question that arises when we see these images of the assembly site at Puerto Real Cadiz in Spain. Airbus is currently testing this first so-called collaborative robot to perform specific tasks on the A-380.

Duprieu Bernard : Airbus - Manufacturing Techniques Research Manager.

"This is a unique development because it's a technique for what we call light and collaborative two-armed robots, and which will be used for operations that can be called low added-value in the assembly of the horizontal stabilizers. It will be used to position, and preposition, certain elements, and hold them between the two."

The objective is clear: to reduce production costs. The choice of the airframer Airbus is focused on this Japanese humanoid.

Duprieu Bernard : Airbus - Manufacturing Techniques Research Manager.

"Today we have chosen the KAWADA robot called IRO, because it's one of the most advanced on the market, and has a very interesting performance and embedded technology cost. It will be integrated into an assembly line and work with people because we will have integrated perceptions and behaviour so that it can adapt its speed, etc. relative to the reactions of its adjacent compagnons."

Robotics for production processes. This is not new. Boeing has already established two similar robots on its 777 assembly line in Seattle. Airbus has given itself two years to validate these robot tests for it to become a true tradesman just like any other.