About Us

Projects of Note

Since entering the field of coordinate metrology and robotics in 1994, New River Kinematics (NRK) has focused on two categories of work. First, NRK continues to build and enhance SpatialAnalyzer® (SA), NRK’s core metrology software package. Second, NRK undertakes many custom software projects that deal with metrology applications and typically focuses on custom integration with factory production processes. Many of these are proprietary projects and while we cannot reveal the details of the processes, we can cover their general terms and goals.

Projects of Note

• Boeing: 787 Dreamliner Join (DLJ) System

  NRK integrated multiple measurement system stations to automate data acquisition for part fit-up and optimal airplane section joins. The complex configurations require tightly coupled measurement analysis and reporting integration. Simplified user interfaces for each operation helped ensure a production ready solution.

• Lockheed Martin: JSF, F-35 MAPIS (Metrology Automated Parts Inspection System)

  NRK automated the inspection of composite parts using a Nikon Laser radar ensuring that parts comply with outer mold line requirements and part thickness specifications. Measurement results are integrated with factory reporting systems, and LMCO provides the application to the supply chain thus improving supply chain performance.

• Lockheed Martin: F-16 Block 60 Aircraft

  LTAS (Laser Tracking Alignment System) A modernized system for the alignment (Bore-sight) of key system components on the Block 60 F-16 Fighter series. The LTAS guides aircraft technicians (who are not skilled in measurement technology) through the critical field alignment and setting operations of flight, weapon, and mission-critical aircraft components.

• Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard

  We are not at liberty to disclose more than the general nature of this project. NRK designed an automated system that guides an operator through sampling dense data with an arm scanner. An automated analysis engine segments and conditions the data, then generates machine motion paths for a numerically controlled milling machine. This reduced measurement, analysis, and reporting from 120 man hours and two operators to four hours and one operator, as well as significantly reduced error and ensured process standardization along the way.

• Boeing: F/A-22 Raptor Boom Keel Alignment

  We are not at liberty to disclose more than the general nature of this project. This application saved over $28 million in tooling costs and yielded an 87.5% improvement in flow time.

• Airbus: Wing Production

  NRK automated the inspection and build process so that Airbus in the UK can produce consistent product with considerably less invested in hard tooling. In effect, the metrology systems facilitate part conformance thus eliminating constraints by massive tools. NRK’s unique application enables Airbus to use the most effective metrology tools such as photogrammetry, laser tracker, laser radar, or other scanners for any given manufacturing process or inspection task.

• Spirit AeroSystems: 737 Fuselage Join

  This system is a retrofit of an AIT control system designed to use only the Boeing Laser Tracker (BLT). Due to maintenance and reliability issues with the BLT, the goal was to generalize the AIT system so that it could use any available laser tracker. Updated to use Leica AT 401, NRK designed an interface layer to accomplish this.

• Spirit Aerosystems

  Automation and accuracy improvement of existing MaxMove (very large scale precision forklift) manipulator system for insertion of cockpit electronics and flight control systems into the nose section of the 787 Dreamliner.

• United Launch Alliance: Delta IV Rocket

  NRK conceived and designed a system to load modules for Delta IV sub-assemblies. This same application then performs guided joins of each major structural section and booster rockets. It was designed for closed-loop control of large moving precision wheeled vehicle.

• Areva Nuclear Power Systems: Development of the Trans-World System Robot

  This was a ground-up design and implementation of an underwater nuclear servicing manipulator control system. The Trans-World System Robot was designed to be generally applicable to all nuclear power plant designs worldwide. The control system performed all aspects of control, verification, logging, and NRC (and other governing bodies) compliance, all in a multi-lingual user interface.

• Boeing: 747 FAIT DMS Application

  Boeing conceived and designed this application; NRK provided database, instrument, and user interfaces for all aspects of the Boeing design.

• Genfit

  Development of a highly optimized constrained fitting operation for replacing nuclear steam generators.

• NASA: James Webb Space Telescope & Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Projects

  Using SA modeling allows NASA improved efficiency, variety of reporting options, and ease of data review.

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