Gallery: Tech Innovations In ST Engineering’s New Changi Creek MRO Facility

Aviation Week recently toured ST Engineering’s new Changi Creek MRO facility, which opened Oct. 9. The widebody hangar is designed to serve as a testbed for future technologies. The SG$170 million ($133 million) investment spans 84,000 m² (904,000 ft.²), including 19,914 m² of hangar space. The four widebody bays include a hybrid painting and maintenance bay capable of supporting line and heavy airframe maintenance. 

Uncrewed systems are used to increase productivity. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Remote Inspection System uses drones to inspect the upper surfaces of aircraft. Conventional operations use 2-3 personnel and a boom lift, taking 1.5 days to complete an inspection. Drones can complete the task in 1.5 hr. and enable an aircraft to be turned around in one day. 

Previously used for engine inspections, AI Visual Inspection has now been expanded to airframe parts such as landing gear and auxiliary power units. Computer vision can detect missing parts and defects, resulting in an 83% reduction in inspection time. 

Under the wider AI-GIRO (Goods Issuance, Return and Operations) system, tools and components are now stored in an automated storage and retrieval system manufactured by Kardex. Once dispensed, the parts are sorted and retrieved by Alphabot humanoid robots and placed into boxes for dispatch.

The boxes are then collected by three autonomous mobile robots and delivered to the hangar floor. ST Engineering estimates that 20,000 km of walking is eliminated, translating to 8,000 labor-hours saved. 

Larger and heavier parts are transported by the AI-Fast autonomous guided vehicle. The cargo hold can handle loads measuring 1.5 m by 1.5 m, with a maximum weight of 500 kg. The vehicle has a battery runtime of around eight hours and solar panels to harvest energy. Fully autonomous, it saves 50% of dispatch process time and minimizes delays. 

In addition to 16,458 m² of solar panels on the roof to generate clean energy, the facility can harvest 31,000 gallons of rainwater for washing up to 4-6 widebody aircraft.