USAF uses Robots to wash its F-16 fighters
(US Air Force)
The United States Air Force showed robotic washers cleaning F-16 fighters in the 149th Air Regiment.
The autonomous washing system is still a prototype, but the military notes that it can be introduced in all divisions of the air force and adapted for other models of combat aircraft.
Aircraft are washed to prevent corrosion. It can be caused by residual oil, hydraulic fluid and soot from engines.
Corrosion damages the metal structures and aluminum frames of the aircraft, shortening the life of the aircraft.
F-16 fighters are usually washed every 180 days. They are cleaned by three or four people over the course of two days using a product called Aerowash.
To prevent it from getting on the body, they wear goggles, gloves, boots and overalls.
The United States Air Force showed robotic washers developed by Wilder Systems on May 3 that do the job in one hour.
So far, the autonomous washing system is a prototype, but the US military noted that it can be introduced in all divisions of the air force.
After successfully demonstrating a prototype autonomous washing system for the F-16, the company is going to try to adapt the same robots for aircraft repair.
The US Air Force is conducting other experiments, entrusting robots with human work.
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