NEW MEXICO – The U.S. Air Force has opened the new Agile Manufacturing Lab in New Mexico. The hope is that the lab can take advantage of developing technologies in robotics, 3D printing, and advanced computing to expedite the design process, particularly in the aerospace and energy sectors.
The new venture was created as part of a collaboration between the Air Force Research Lab and the University of New Mexico.
Funded by a US$$6.7 million grant from the Air Force, the lab is located at the university’s research park.
The lab’s approach is to combine machine learning, multimaterial additive manufacturing, intelligent robotic assembly, machine vision, and advanced manufacturing to create “agile manufacturing for high-value, low-volume production.”
As part of the investment, the lab will include 6 industrial robots, a pair of 3D printers, and a central computing system. According to a report from Design & Development Today, the engineers hope the capabilities will accelerate the development of new systems in satellite defense, lasers, and microwaves.
Source: Thomasnet